Pushing for the right radiation therapy treatment
Advances in radiation therapy offer many new treatment choices. When a patient's oncologist recommends radiation, be sure to check into whether the type of radiation the doctor suggests is the most advanced strategy available for his cancer.
Of course, you're naturally going to have many questions. Among them will be concerns about whether the type of radiation the doctor's recommending is the most advanced and aggressive strategy available for the particular type of cancer.
"Not all radiation therapy is created equal" says oncologist Shalom Kalnicki, chairman of radiation oncology at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. "You want to understand what's involved and find out about all the options so you can make the best choice."
For suggestions on what to ask during this important discussion, see 15 Questions to Ask About Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer. Certainly, the oncologist knows more about cancer than you do and may have solid reasons for recommending a particular treatment -- but it's also possible he's recommending only the treatment available in the hospitals he's affiliated with. To prepare for this talk, you'll want to know the terms for the wide variety of techniques available. Here's a rundown of the newest radiation technologies:
I had breast cancer and tumor removed from one breast. Howvever, because I went online to research radiation, I found there is a new procedure for radiation after surgery called "mammasite", This involves the surgeon during surgery to remove tumer, to implant a bulb apparatus inside the breast and having wires, protrubing out by your breast. Not everyone can qualify it depends on location of the tumor. What is great is that you only have radiation for five day twice a day. The radiation machine or whatever is attached to these tubes which were implanted inside your breast. I had no pain just a little discomfort and I had a wonderful doctor, surgeon and radiation center staff who provided me with the care above and beyond what I expected to have. They knew I wanted to go home for thanksgiving and the radiation staff finished my last treatment at five am in the morning so I go home for the holiday. Also, the removal of this implant did not hurt at all. Would I go through this again, yes definitely would. I was so worried for weeks thinking about going through surgery and radiation and if you have the right doctors and radiation center like I had, you are home free. God bless all of them who took care of me. Ladies, do your homework like I did and research all your options with your doctor and wherever information is available and then decide whats best for you. My first surgeon who must of been loco, told me I had only two options remove lump or breast and five to six weeks of radiation and let him know. I went to cancer close to home, but they wanted 7000 dollars first because my insurance was not in their network. Then I said goodbye to this doctor and cancer center and God directedme to this wonderful cancer center which was farther away and covered under my insurance. However, I would of gone to China if I had to. Anyway, there was ahospitality place we stayed in during testing, surgery and radiation. My advice its your body and make sure your surgeon and radiation center is okay. Check everything out and take control.