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Old 01-05-2015, 07:47 PM   #1
rhondalea
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Somerset, NJ
Posts: 487
Would have been nice to know (left-side radiation)

So this:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0105125918.htm

"Women who have breast cancer on their left side present a particular challenge to radiation oncologists. Studies have shown that the risk of heart disease is higher in this group of women after radiation treatment because it can be difficult to ensure that a sufficient dose of radiation is delivered to the left breast while adequately shielding the heart from exposure. New research shows a woman who holds her breath during radiation pulses can greatly reduce radiation exposure to the heart."

The study has been ongoing for eight freakin' years. Do you think they could have just passed along this little tidbit just in case? I mean, seriously, if it had turned out to be a big nothing, then no harm, no foul. But because it is a non-invasive, totally-without-deleterious-consequences technique, there was no reason not to have women holding their breath all that time.

It just boggles the mind.
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3/30/11 Pea-sized lump in left breast at site of prior biopsy; mammo negative, sonogram not so much
4/14/11 Core needle biopsy: negative for cancer
5/18/11 Excisional biopsy 1.2 cm tumor, LVI, positive margin; ER+60%,PR+20%,HER2/CEP17 5
6/15/11 BMX: Left DCIS & LH; Right ADH; SNB: 2/3 nodes: 1.4 cm and 1 mm; ALND L1&2: 0/10; Stage IIa, Grade 3
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