Why a bolus during rads?

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1

Hi

I have had 8 out of 15 rads sessions. Today they have told me that from now until the end they will be placing a bolus over the breast area. Could anyone tell me why, the hospital have just said it’s to trick the rads machine into thinking the skin is not where it actually is.Does this mean they think the cancer was in the skin?

I trust they are doing what they think is best for me but no one has mentioned this before and I am a bit concerned.

Thanks

Andie

2

Hi Andie,

If you would like to give the helpline a ring the nurses will be only too happy to discuss this with you.

Kind regards,
Jo, Facilitator

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Hi Andi

I had 15 rad sessions and for the first 5 had a bolus bag.
Naively I assumed it was protecting my skin but when I asked about it I was told the same as you. In my case I had a mastectomy following a WLE. When the area was removed clear margins were achieved but there was only a 1mm clearance between the margins and the chest wall, hence the rads and of course the bag, which then targeted the skin surface where odd cells may have been.
All the best for your remaining sessions.

M.

4

Hi Andi

I also had a bolus for all of my 15 rads and I was told that it increased the intensity of the rays to that area. My margins were 7mm as I had a mastectomy with widespread DCIS.

Best wishes for the rest of your treatment.
Ruby xx

5

Andi - i had my rads in jan/feb 20 sessions and had a bolus for the first 15… i assumed that the bolus was a protective cover… :lol: i was told it is actually there to boost the amount of radiation given to the surface layer…

I have IBC and i know a couple of other IBC patients on here that were also given it…

In my case my skin ended up in a bit of a mess…:frowning: My onc did say (after the event…) that she had been leaving the bolus on for as many days as possible - ie until my skin got into a state…:frowning: Must admit the special cream at the end did work it’s wonders in healing it though…

Theresa

6

Hi

Thanks for that Theresa- It all makes sense now beacuse I am an IBC girl.
Glad they are throwing all they can at me

Andie

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Hi andie,

I asked about the bolus at my last oncology appointment when my forthcoming rads were planned. Apparently rads normally target tissue just below the skin and downwards. The bolus helps to redirect the rads to target the skin as well - this is not always needed except in cases where the tumour is v close to skin surface - and also in cases of ibc - as this kind of cancer has a greater chance of spreading to the skin.

bright

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Andie - have you noticed we now also have an IBC subforum on here…? Not many of us about…

Theresa