••• April Radiotherapy Club 2020 •••

Hi - I’m new to this site - I hope you can help. I was diagnosed with DCIS in January this year and had WLE in February. I have been for my initial radiotherapy appt today where they measured me up. I was having 3 weeks of radiotherapy but was told that due to coronavirus I am to have 5 treatments as it will mean less time coming into hospital. This is linked to the Fast Forward trial -I have tried to look at link given in my letter and it doesn’t come up with anything.

Is there anyone else out there who is in the same position/know more about it? I’m worried I won’t get the complete treatment.

Many thanks.

Hi 

Warm welcome to the group.

Sorry this will be brief as we are expecting our shopping delivery but the FAST Forward trial isn't recruiting now as the trial has closed and prelim results are in so this is being rolled out to keep visits to a minimum during the coronavirus issue.

You can read details of what to expect clicking this link to Cancer Research UK (CRUK)

Hope this helps for now, G n' J

Hi - thanks for replying but I don’t want to join the trial - I wanted to know if the results of the trial of having one week of radiotherapy is as successful as the standard 3 weeks of treatment. I understand keeping hospital visits to a minimum etc. Just worried about it all.

many thanks.

I've been told I may be eligible and it will offer the same treatment with less visits, under normal circumstances this gets a thumbs up, as radio is now my only reason to leave home and I'm getting very despondent then I'm not chasing the option X

Morning   / 

The Fast Forward phase 3 trial which closed to patients in 2018 is following patients for 10 years post radiotherapy so the full results won't be in until 2028.

Normally with standard 15 sessions you would receive around 40Gy (grays) 2.6 Gy daily, those who were on the trial had a total of around 25 Gy (5.4 Gy daily for 5 days) and an axilla boost if needed.

I don't think many will be offered the normal 15 x daily sessions while this coronavirus is active although the total radiation being offered is about a third less it has to be better than not having any ?

You could ask if delaying rads until this is over would put you at a higher risk of recurrence but it may well mean a wait of at least six months possibly a year before they go back to the normal 15 sessions :-/

Take care, G n' J

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Am in the same boat, have my first rads meeting Friday and have been made aware that there's a preference for 1 week. I do however hope to be given the option of 3 weeks or 1 week, if not will be requesting 3 weeks and if not will be rolling up my sleeves for a fight! Happy to delay treatment but want the 3 weeks full strength stuff!

I'll let you know how I get on.

Sam X

Hi Sam - I wasn’t given an option - it’s 5 sessions and that’s it. Would there be any point in arguing?

when I spoke to the radiologist she said they would not be doing just the 5 sessions if it was not ok.

yes let us know what happens.

Checking in for April....been for number 11 this morning so only 4 more to go. I will be glad to be finished on Wednesday, even the slightest cough has me panicking in case I won't be able to go. Have to remember, I did sometimes cough before all this cv stuff!

Everything is still going ahead as normal at the unit, apart from nobody allowed to accompany you in the waiting room and the 2m rule being applied everywhere. Since Tuesday this week, we are now given masks to wear when we arrive and the staff are wearing them too, which I thought they would have done earlier.

I've been fine so far. Skin has gone pink but not sore or broken. The Aquamax cream must be good stuff. It is starting to feel like a long slog now though doing the journey down the motorway every day and sometimes one or two of the machines break down and it can be a long wait.....I was over 2 hours there on Tuesday. I shouldn't complain though, I'm grateful that we have these clever machines, the staff are all lovely and it must be a pain for them too when the machines aren't working.

I will probably miss it next week when I don't have my regular morning outing!!

Good luck to everyone about to start treatment, hope it all goes well in these strange times.

Hi West End Girl

Glad it's going well for you. Can I ask where you got the cream from?

Thanks

The cream is given to me by my unit. I believe this isn't the case for everyone and I think you can buy similar, it's just a thick emollient cream in a tub.