Length of radiotherapy - todays news
Length of radiotherapy - todays news I heard a snippet on todays news regarding radiotherapy and breast cancer. Something to the effect that 3 weeks of higher ‘blasts’ is just as ‘effective’ as the longer 5 weeks of lower ‘blasts’. I am not at that stage yet - something to look forward to in September/October - but am intersted as its looming for me. Personally the sooner i get it out of the way the better, but what are your/your docs views? Don’t know any further details.
Thought they already did this When I had radiotherapy in August 2001, I had 15 sessions as opposed to the 20 that someone I met in hospital was having. As our cases were very similar, I queried this and was told that I was having a slightly higher dose of ‘grays’ each time than she was, they were trialling this as they believed it would be just as effective and involve fewer hospital visits. We were in fact receiving the same number of grays in total. It seems strange that they now announce trials at other hospitals (not the one I attended) as if this is fairly unusual. By the way I didn’t ever suffer any problems with RT, no burning, discomfort, or even tiredness. I worked all the way through radiotherapy.
I know some people do have more/less sessions than others at the moment - perhaps its the first time they’ve conclusively measured the overall risk of returning? Glad the RT went well for you. Am hoping I’m also able to work a bit throughout.
Where i live in Norfolk the standard RT for BC is 15 sessions as opposed to 25 in some areas. I asked my onc why and he said it was local protocol and that most London hospitals still did 25. He said that many considered that having a larger fraction in fewer sessions was just as effective and easier for the patient. I was a little sceptical as my RT department has 3 machines working for 12 hours a day which is sometimes extended when the work load is high. How could they possibly cope if they had to give 25 sessions rather than 15? But i do trust my onc and i guess this research backs up what he said.
Kelley
radiotherapy session In oxfordshire it depends on whether you are having reconstruction as to how many sessions you get.
17 if no reconstruction compared to 25 for reconstrustion, reason given as kinder to the skin + boosters.
Debbie
Oxon v Berks Hi Debsy … I’m fascinated to hear Oxfordshire might do things differently to adjacent counties. Is that standard across all of Oxon do you think?
I live on Oxon, but right on the border, virtually equi-distant between Oxford and Reading. I attached myself to Berks for treatment (surgery & chemo so far … with one more chemo to go) only because it was more convenient for work.
When it comes to rads I have the option of switching to Oxford. This would be tempting if the waiting time was shorter for instance.
I’ve only had a lumpectomy, but am pretty sure I was told I’d get 5 weeks (25 sessions) of rads. If switching to Oxford might mean only 17 sessions - that would be another reason to consider the switch.
Hi angibert I had my rads at the Churchill in Oxford, 13 sessions in all.
My friend will be starting her radiotherapy next week; she will be having 25 treatments.
We share the same oncology team, but I assume that different cases require different regimes.
Mcgle
PS For me, the waiting time between surgery (no chemo) and rads was 12 weeks.