HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - shortened radiation time study, to 5 days with targeted

AlaskaAngel · 01-17-2006, 10:51 AM

When I was diagnosed I searched high and low for brachytherapy options and they weren't there. This can make a very, very big difference not just in convenience. When I was told I should do rads, as a self-employed person with contracts out locally I knew it could mean the end of my livelihood. This option is really important for people who live long distances away from treatment. Although more than 250,000 of our roughly 600,000 population live in Anchorage where there is treatment, the rest of the state has very difficult transportation problems and those not on the limited road system have to either fly in and live in a place like Anchorage or Seattle for around 2 months, losing income the entire time, not to mention either being separated from family and friends or trying to bring family along at even more expense. And some of those in the more remote areas also have to fly in and be housed in smaller cities here in Alaska for the surgery to begin with, along with any trips for use of sophisticated technology like MRI. All of this is hard to bear on top of being diagnosed with cancer.

I would have gladly participated in the research. I knew at the time that brachytherapy was being used successfully for prostate cancer and I just could not understand why on earth it had not been explored for breast cancer.

So I too am delighted to see this is finally becoming a reality for those like me, whether it be in places that are rural in the Lower 48 or in Alaska.

A.A.

01-17-2006, 10:51 AM	#2
AlaskaAngel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 2,018	When I was diagnosed I searched high and low for brachytherapy options and they weren't there. This can make a very, very big difference not just in convenience. When I was told I should do rads, as a self-employed person with contracts out locally I knew it could mean the end of my livelihood. This option is really important for people who live long distances away from treatment. Although more than 250,000 of our roughly 600,000 population live in Anchorage where there is treatment, the rest of the state has very difficult transportation problems and those not on the limited road system have to either fly in and live in a place like Anchorage or Seattle for around 2 months, losing income the entire time, not to mention either being separated from family and friends or trying to bring family along at even more expense. And some of those in the more remote areas also have to fly in and be housed in smaller cities here in Alaska for the surgery to begin with, along with any trips for use of sophisticated technology like MRI. All of this is hard to bear on top of being diagnosed with cancer. I would have gladly participated in the research. I knew at the time that brachytherapy was being used successfully for prostate cancer and I just could not understand why on earth it had not been explored for breast cancer. So I too am delighted to see this is finally becoming a reality for those like me, whether it be in places that are rural in the Lower 48 or in Alaska. A.A.