Radiotherapy

Hi Hellesdon welcome to the forum. I know that the breath holding treatment does happen but I dont unfortunately know a lot about it . However, before any treatment starts someone will sit down with you after the Radiotherapy unit and go through fully what will happen and why. This is the time to have all those questions at the ready for them and be sure to ask so you know whats going on.

I also dont understand fully the Radiotherapy 5 sessions instead of 15 mainly because I dont understand physics. The treatment is given in fractions and are divide up over the 15 sessions to ensure the  right course/dosage is given. Evidence available to the Teams now suggest that 5 sessions of bigger fractions given over shorter time is as effective Hence why it is starting to happen up and down the country and hope that makes sense?

As for bras you will have no bra on during treatment but you will take it off before you lie on the treatment table and put it on as you leave  if that makes sense?

Hello. You'll have a CT scan and planning session which will measure you for the treatment. They will practise the breath hold with you and technique. I had both arms up for scan but suffered a lot of shoulder ache afterwards so opted to just have the left, affected side up which is fine. Breath hold is 20-30 secs but depends on treatment. 15 is standard minimal treatment but some hospitals do an intensive 5 day sessions instead. Dosage is the same but very dependent on where you are and what treatment they have decided. Keep doing the exercises as they help.

No bra for treatment but have found staff, both male and female very respectful. The treatment itself is not long but the faffing to get you lined up and prepared can be tiring. Moisturise well before and after. Find what suits you but again some hospitals recommend and others give you cream. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the advice and taking time to reply. 

Have started to hold breath can do 20 seconds but not sure if I'm doing it right. 

Thanks for this reply. I have had no problems with moving my arm/shoulder since the operation and appear to have full movement.

Hi

im an ex radiotherapy radiographer 

you will only need to hold your breath if it is a left sided tumour 

if so practice at home flat on your back with both arms above your head starting with 10 second breath hold and working up to 20 seconds. Some places ask you to try 25 seconds but i wasn’t comfortable with that.

with bras the best type are the seamless crop top type bras to be worn during the duration of treatment but you have to take it off for treatment 

There has been a clinical trial over the last 5 years and the results published last year state that a 5 treatment regime with a higher dose every day is equivalent to 15 treatments ite 26gy in 5 treatments is equivalent to 40.05 gy in 15 treatments in radiobiology terms.

if you are prescribed 5 treatments plus 5 it is 5 treatment to the breast with a further 5 to the area the tumour presented in.

hope this helps 

Hi, I can't comment on the breath holding as mine was my right side, but a wee tip on what to wear. I was told to wear a vest top. I got changed in the cubicle and slipped off my bra and shirt, leaving a vest top with my jeans. I wore this walking to tHe treatment room and when I was lying on the bed I could slip the straps off the shoulders and pull the vest down. Really very dignified and I am also a larger lady.  Hope this gives you a bit of reassurance. Good luck x

Thanks for the information about holding my breath as it is my left side, will start to practise this. 

As for the 5 plus 5 days. I understand that it is twice the dosage of radiation, but its this done in one go or twice throughout the day. 

As my tumour was wee 1cm big will that make a difference. I know your not a doctor but this part I'm finding far more worrying than actually having the cancer and the op. I've already started a list of questions. 

Hope this make sense. 

Yes it does thank you. 

Hi

if It is 5 plus 5 it’s 10 treatments one per day and it’s not twice the dosage.

It’s 5 treatments to the breast and then 5 smaller top up treatments to the ares of the lump but at a lower dose.

if your tumour was small you may get partial breast treatment like I had but that depends on where your tumour was in the breast.
The clinical trial that compared the 15 treatment regime to the 5 treatment regime compared patients with early breast cancer so small is good.

You are right to write a list of questions for your oncologist as it’s easy to forget at the consultation.

Thank you. This was very helpful. Put a feet worries at rest.