Posting this article here for open discussion.
"Delays in Radiation"...
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/131382.php
I found this article to be very interesting since this has been a point of interest to me. While I realize the urgency in starting chemo treatment and it is the first treatment that begins, to be followed with radiation, I have been wondering for a long time if those with early stage disease would be served better to be treated with radiation first (especially now since there are new shorter radiation treatments lasting only days) instead of weeks.
The theory being that you attack any cells that may be left behind immediately....at the bed of the tumor. While at SABS last year I saw a film on a new radiation treatment that was performed in the OR right after the surgeon removes the tumor and treatment is applied before the surgeon closes the lumpectomy...very interesting.
My thoughts on this are - since the patient is Stage 1
node neg. maybe radiation should be applied first to offer a complete procedure then go forward with chemo? Note this would only apply in early breast cancer patients...
I can only speak for myself, when I was first dx. and I began to make appointments for my radiation portion of treatment I was met with delays...and the dr. assured me that a couple of weeks would NOT matter. I did not buy it then - (3 yrs ago) it made no sense to me. I pushed and pushed and did get my rad treatment 30 days after surgery....strange that my situation is....I did not have chemo/herception until much later....becasue at the time all onc. would not treat me since I was stage 1 with a small tumor...
Maybe the future for early stage patients is faster treatment with the new methods shorter treatments of radiation to be followed with chemo/herceptin or maybe just herceptin.....Dr. Slamon and I, and my onc. here on the East have discussed this a few times, and they are
keeping records about my "different case"....
Yes, I know sisters, I am weird...
Your input and thoughts ....?
Kind Regards,
jean
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