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Chelee · 08-06-2006, 07:18 PM

Val, I had not heard of IMRT until your post. I have *no* idea what kind or type of radiation they use here? However I did a search on it and that sounds like the type I NEED! I sure wish I was NOT WAY past due on radiation...because I have a feeling had I known and put a request into my HMO about the problems with my anatomy and Rads...they WOULD of Ok'd this for me with no problem. I don't know how they could of refused it given all the medical history on me to support the need for this.

Tomorrow (Monday) is already WEEK NINE. I should of had rads between 3 to 5 weeks. So I am weeks behind. But I sure would feel SAFER with this apporch when it comes to radiation. I can't breath as it is...I can't afford anymore lung damage!

This Rad onc is talking about hitting another 12% of my lungs....I am sorry...it might not be much to him...but scares the he$$ out of me! But I wish I had another 2 or 3 weeks to start and I would seriously LOVE to call my insurance company to request this type of rads. (I have a feeling that isn't the kind they have where I am going!)

I sure appreciate you telling me about it though. Tomorrow i go for herceptin and I am suppose to get the go ahead on rads. So I will at least mention it to this Rad onc doc and see if there is ANY WAY to get me set-up ASAP for some place that has this. Can't hurt to try. Although this rad onc doc seems to think I will be fine...but I have heard that before as I landed in the hospital.

Does anyone here think I could take a chance and contact my insurance company and see if they could "expedite" this for me so I could use this type of machine? And since I am at nine weeks already...maybe a couple more days wouldn't hurt...as long as it was ONLY a couple days! I would sure feel better about Rads if I could have it done this way. These people don't know my anatomy like I do. They are going to hit more lung then they think...and I already have severe scoliosis...and if they weaken any of the bones in the area...I am going to be in lots of trouble. I am just terrified..I really am.

Thanks a million Val. Its so sweet of you to post this information.

Chelee

08-06-2006, 07:18 PM	#12
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Val, I had not heard of IMRT until your post. I have no idea what kind or type of radiation they use here? However I did a search on it and that sounds like the type I NEED! I sure wish I was NOT WAY past due on radiation...because I have a feeling had I known and put a request into my HMO about the problems with my anatomy and Rads...they WOULD of Ok'd this for me with no problem. I don't know how they could of refused it given all the medical history on me to support the need for this. Tomorrow (Monday) is already WEEK NINE. I should of had rads between 3 to 5 weeks. So I am weeks behind. But I sure would feel SAFER with this apporch when it comes to radiation. I can't breath as it is...I can't afford anymore lung damage! This Rad onc is talking about hitting another 12% of my lungs....I am sorry...it might not be much to him...but scares the he$$ out of me! But I wish I had another 2 or 3 weeks to start and I would seriously LOVE to call my insurance company to request this type of rads. (I have a feeling that isn't the kind they have where I am going!) I sure appreciate you telling me about it though. Tomorrow i go for herceptin and I am suppose to get the go ahead on rads. So I will at least mention it to this Rad onc doc and see if there is ANY WAY to get me set-up ASAP for some place that has this. Can't hurt to try. Although this rad onc doc seems to think I will be fine...but I have heard that before as I landed in the hospital. Does anyone here think I could take a chance and contact my insurance company and see if they could "expedite" this for me so I could use this type of machine? And since I am at nine weeks already...maybe a couple more days wouldn't hurt...as long as it was ONLY a couple days! I would sure feel better about Rads if I could have it done this way. These people don't know my anatomy like I do. They are going to hit more lung then they think...and I already have severe scoliosis...and if they weaken any of the bones in the area...I am going to be in lots of trouble. I am just terrified..I really am. Thanks a million Val. Its so sweet of you to post this information. Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.