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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Cancer / February 2005I don't understand about radiation
I was diagnosed last June with stage 3 breast cancer. I had an 8-cm tumor. I had chemo, which shrank the tumor down to the point where it couldn't be felt any more. Then I had a modified radical mastectomy in December. 15 lymph nodes were removed. The pathology report showed no cancer was found. My surgeon and oncologist are very happy about this. After the mastectomy I was draining for a long time. Now I finished draining, and I am scheduled to start radiation the day after tomorrow. But I'm scared. It's going to burn me and hurt me, and x-rays *cause* cancer, and it will increase the risk of lymphedema....dear God, why do I have to do this? I know that it's supposed to increase survival rates but I don't understand how it *works*. Can someone please direct me to some info? Thanx Eva >I was diagnosed last June with stage 3 breast cancer. I had an 8-cm tumor. > I had chemo, which shrank the tumor down to the point where it couldn't be [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Thanx Eva Here's a start http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/CancerTreatment/RadiationTherapy/default.htm Radiation to the chest wall, and sometimes the lymph nodes is standard therapy after surgery for locally advanced breast cancer. It reduces local recurrence and improves survival. The problem is that even after chemo and surgery, there are likely some viable cancer cells left in the area. Radiation stands a chance of killing them. A radiation reaction is like a sunburn for breast cancer patients, nothing more. Radiation can cause cancer? Very rarely, sure, but so can chemo. Most people who have both radiation and chemo find the radiation the easy part. Why not talk to your radiation oncologist about your concerns? Eva About 20% of breast cancer patients who have had node removal and/or extensive radiation will develop lymphedema...so the odds are you won't. Just learn to recognize early any symptoms and have it treated quickly. I understand your fears as a cancer survivor also...just hang in there and do what you need to get well...take things one step at a time! Hugs to you Pat O'Connor Lymphedema People http://www.lymphedemapeople.com Steph scribbled: "A radiation reaction is like a sunburn for breast cancer patients, nothing more." It was only a couple of weeks ago that Killer denied that radiation burned. And now you're saying it's like a sunburn. Checkmate. And what about the "nothing more" comment?? It sure as sh.t does a lot more. Radiation causes adhesions. It also causes edema in many patients. No mention of that by you, Killer, despite the fact that Eva asked about that specifically. Nice. > Steph scribbled: "A radiation reaction is like a sunburn for breast > cancer patients, nothing more." Which is entirely true. > It was only a couple of weeks ago that Killer denied that radiation > burned. And now you're saying it's like a sunburn. Checkmate. Sunburn isn't a burn, either. There's nothing thermal about it. > And what about the "nothing more" comment?? It sure as sh.t does a lot > more. > > Radiation causes adhesions. It also causes edema in many patients. No > mention of that by you, Killer, despite the fact that Eva asked about > that specifically. Nice. Adhesions in patients having radiotherapy for breast cancer? Perhaps you could cite the paper? Steph Feb 11, 6:13 pm show options Newsgroups: sci.med.diseases.cancer From: "Steph" <s...@vancouver.island> - Find messages by this author Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2005 02:13:36 GMT Local: Fri, Feb 11 2005 6:13 pm Subject: Re: I don't understand about radiation Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse >> Steph scribbled: "A radiation reaction is like a sunburn for >>breast cancer patients, nothing more." >Which is entirely true. No edema, no adhesions, no death by radiation. No reality either. >> It was only a couple of weeks ago that Killer denied that >>radiation burned. And now you're saying it's like a sunburn. >>Checkmate. >Sunburn isn't a burn, either. There's nothing thermal about it. ROFLMAO!! "A sunburn isn't a burn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cripes, I'm not even going to bother to answer that one, Killer, cuz the utter stupidity of your comment is obvious to all already. >> And what about the "nothing more" comment?? It sure as >>sh.t does a lot more. >> Radiation causes adhesions. It also causes edema in many >>patients. No >> mention of that by you, Killer, despite the fact that Eva asked >>about that specifically. Nice. >Adhesions in patients having radiotherapy for breast cancer? >Perhaps you could cite the paper? You're still not mentioning the edema -- the killing edema!!!!!!!! You are a riot!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And you want me to cite a paper when you won't look at the citation I've given you over and over again?? You know the one that impressed 14 Nobel Prize Winners!! Steph, remember you shouldn't drink the cabernet until AFTER you zap the patients. > Steph Feb 11, 6:13 pm show options > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Adhesions in patients having radiotherapy for breast cancer? >Perhaps > you could cite the paper? Well I can't but for post operative reconstruction. http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/breastcenter/services/ask_expert/index.cfm?cat=8& pagenum=6 I've read of two examples of radiation enteritis on these newsgroups (over a 5 year period) Whch can result in adhesions. http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/radiationenteritis/Health Professional/page3 Both IIRC in the US. You can't fault Steph for being competent, you cannot indict all radiation therapy/ists for the erros of one or two. If there's more in your country, then work on changing that. Otherwise, as my own doctor told me, adhesions may occur after surgeries and some persons (for unknown reasons) are more prone to them. http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Adhesions?open and they're abdominal or pelvic surgeries/adhesions. J |
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