Just wanted to ask has anyone who is due to have radiotherapy been asked to take part in a trial? I have been asked to take part in Import High and have to make the decision by Friday. I really dont know which way to go as there are pros and cons for it. I just wondered if anyone else had been approached and what their views of it were.
Hi Annette
sorry I am a bit late, but I am new to this forum thing! you will have made your decision by now of course… I was asked to take part in the Import High Trial too, and accepted. i then got randomly allocated the control treatment, so I still had the full 23 sessions, not the trials new 15 sessions. At the time I was disappointed not to have got the shorter treatment, but in the end, another 8 days was neither here nor there!
my oncologist said that the new regimes being tested were going to be the new way forward but to get them on the nhs they have to go through the trial process to prove categorically. She said I would not be disadvantaged whatever treatment I got randomly allocated in trial, it still kills the cancer cells remaining after surgery. I like being in the trial as you get followed up for a long time in the future, and also because the trial uses new more accurate targeting of radiotherapy rays. At least, that was my outtake!
hope you went for it!
x
ps didn’t have much trouble with effects of rads, just a bit of a sore boob for a week or so, but it soon improved. I used E 45 cream twice a day and 99.9% aloe Vera when it got a bit itchy. A silk scarf or one of my husbands cotton hankies in my bra helped a lot at its peak. But really not much trouble at all I am pleased to say. 
Hi annette
have just seen your post. I have said that I will go on the trial- my lumpectomy is tomorrow so the gold beads will be fitted then. Don’t yet know which group I will be in. I liked the idea of having a 10 year follow up. Which way did you decide?
ls xx
Hi
Again a bit late, I have just finished radiotherapy on import high trial, I got the short straw though and still had the 5 week stint, it wasn’t too bad, although I did find the photos a little daunting at the beginning, having to stand in the middle of a large room with a bare top half and arms above your head, however after 5 weeks rads you get used to that.
I took part in the trial as I wanted to do whatever i coudl to help. Aloe vera gel, and drinking loads (500ml per hour) and gentle exercies seemed to get me thorugh without too many problems, just a bit lethargic sometimes.
Good luck.
Hi everyone thanks for your posts. I did decide to go for it in the end and i start on 11th Feb. Thanks for all your tips aswell