How long is radiotherapy

It depends whether you get the more intense treatment or not. Or is the same amount of radiation but over fewer days. I had 5 days full breast and 5 days booster to the scar area. I wasn't too tired out (though I had chemo so radiotherapy tends to feel a lot easier!).

I think 4 or 5 weeks of travelling every day could be quite tiring, worth asking them about the compressed timescale option 

Hi

The dose and length of your course of treatment is dependant on your age,histology,size of tumour and if you have nodal areas treated.

Your oncologist will decide which is the best plan for you.

The five treatment course is used in early stage breast cancer.If you have the five treatment course you get more dose every day but a lower overall dose but it has the same biological effect on your body.

Hope all goes well x

Hi Bobbiboo, my BCN initially said that I might have 3 weeks of radiotherapy but when I actually reached the point that I needed to start radiotherapy - around 9 months later and after two surgeries and chemo - the oncologist advised that I would be having 5 days whole breast and 5 days booster. The length/type of radiotherapy you need will be dependent on your particular circumstances but when you meet with the oncologist they will explain how many sessions you need. I know what you mean about wanting to get to the end of the treatment but you will get there! x

Thanks for your replies.  I hope I can get the booster treatment to get it over with

Xxx

I had mine back in 2015 when the intense version wasn't an option so I has 3 weeks of mon-fri sessions.  I was lucky I lived less than 5 minute drive from unit.  Each session is very quick.  I had to have a mould made as I'm a G cup and they seemed to spend more time getting that lined up that the actual treatment.  

I just had 5 days of radiotherapy. It was split over two weeks with a weekend in the middle. I didn't find it too bad at all and had no real problems, my skin very lightly peeled but no soreness or anything.

Thanks 

I had stage 3 breast cancer and needed treatment to my chest wall and armpit. I had 15 daily sessions over 3 weeks. I didn't need any boosts to the tumour bed afterwards, though I know others have gone on to have 5 boosts after their 15 sessions (they were also daily during the 4th week). But some people have much shorter courses. The treatment itself only takes 5 minutes or so, but it can take 15 mins each time for your radiotherapy team to position you correctly. I am sure your oncology team will tailor your treatment according to your tumour and the outcome of your second surgery.

I was told last week that since Covid instead of 3 weeks 5 days a week they have changed the dose to much higher so you only do 5 days now. This is in Nottingham. Xx

Hello and hope you are doing well.  I finished radiation in April and after 3 weeks of behaving after radiation was done I was a free woman.  I know what you mean about wanting to be done.
The length of your radiation depends on quite a few things: stage and grade of cancer, age, if you had positive nodes etc.  I  did discuss the length of radiation with both my surgeon and radiation oncologist.  My surgeon and radiation oncologist did mention the accelerated 5 day radiation and said the studies are very promising but they are only 5 years out.  He was optimistic and said that after 10 years should know more.  Well I decided to have the 3 week course after discussing with Docs.  Needed 5 boosts added to right breast as after lumpectomy there was a small area that had 1mm clear margin and they like 2mm. for DCIS.  So I am small breasted and surgeon said he did not think he could do more surgery and guarantee that it would be cosmetically good.  My case went back to tumor board and that is when the radiation boosts were recommended as most reoccurrence occurs in tumor bed.  Because I had bilateral BC I was a little nervous so felt that 3 week course plus 5 extra ones to right side was a good choice.  Again all depends on your circumstances.  I am 73 now so told Dr I want to get to be 100.  Gotta aim high!!!

You will be surprised how quickly radiation goes by snd yeah to be done.  Now on hormone treatment as ER snd PR positive.  5 years of anastrazole. 
Barbara