Hi Peggy,

Does your radiation clinic have a hostel where you could stay during
the week?  

I drove 75 miles each way every day, but I'm only 57 and had no other
health problems. And was used to driving, which makes a big
difference.  I found the radiation itself very easy, just a few
minutes and was not tired at all, but I'm sure that doesn't apply to
everyone.  

Marilyn

Peggy - I was only 43 when I had DCIS, lumpectomy & radiation.  I had no side
effects at all.  It didn't tire me at all - in fact, I worked full time, and
even went trekking on a glacier in Alaska during treatment.  They did tell me
if I was elderly & sedentary I might experience some fatigue, but since I was a
healthy, active person they didn't expect me to slow down at all.  

Radiation really IS easy, for the most part.  My secretary is in her 60's and
is finishing up her breast cancer radiation right now.  She had a tough time
with chemo, and thinks radiation is a piece of cake.  She also has other health
complications, but she's sailing thru the radiation.  Don't assume it'll be
tough or awful - most people do very well.  Good luck, whatever you decide.

Sue - DivaofDVC   aka WDW1972
DVC '97   OKW, Beach Club, Vero Beach, & Hilton Head

Radiation is not guaranteed to make you seriously tired, and I'm don't
think it should be particularly additive to rheumatoid arthritis either.
Why not at least try the first few treatments and see how it goes?
Don't give up before you've tried it.

It is true that there is less benefit in these adjuvant treatments,
especially as you get older.  This is partly as you say because you have
less life expectancy to lose, but also because it is thought that
cancers in older people tend to develop more slowly anyway.  But I'm not
sure there is any evidence that that applies to secondaries, and so it
is not a good reason for denying or refusing treatment.

Regarding driving, I don't think it should be that bad.  I wouldn't
expect tiredness to set in immediately after treatment, but more to
accumulate through the day.  It might be worth researching whether
anyone else from your area is attending the clinic around the same time,
with whom you could share transport.  Here in northern England, the
ambulance service runs routine collection trips, picking up several
patients from the same general direction, and delivering them to the
main cancer hospital.

My wife had to travel 30 miles for her radiation, and usually did it by
bus if I couldn't drive her there (2 buses and a walk between them), but
then she was only 45 at the time.

Tim Jackson

Hi Peggy.  I also have rheumatoid arthritis and had DCIS estrogen negative
12 years ago.  Lumpectomy, 1 node involved, rads and chemo at the same time.
Yes I was tired but no different than I felt with the RA in the afternoon.
As I had 2 chemo's whilst doing rads, I had a group of 5 friends who would
each take a day a week to drive me.  This maybe a consideration.  I
certainly think you should have rads as you have only had a lumpectomy.  Let
us know how you are doing.  Jo