Radiotherapy details

Sounds like a plan and just fill your day with something you enjoy. I love reading in my caravan.. ..And going out for coffee.

Does the vitamin e cream affect the way the rays can enter your body?

What is the new radiation treatment please @adean

It is still in its infancy as a technique, Lmc1310. My surgeon said it would be only for particular patients and would deliver radiotherapy during the surgery. No operating theatres in Australia are set up for this, and it would be a huge cost to create or adapt theatres to accomodate the technology and all the technicians, as well as all that is usually found in an operating theatre.

Not that i would know what an operating theatre looks like. I had my eyes shut at the time.

sandramj said:

Hi Bravo,  This was the exact thing I was very concerned about.  YES there is a new method now called Breast Radiotherpay with Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) where we the patient hold our breath when told and hold it tell told to let go (20 seconds) and this means our lungs and hear are stretched longwise and also pulled away from the breast wall. here's a Wikipedia explanation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_inspiration_breath-hold. My oncologist confirmed my research that they do use it particularly with women with left breast cancer.  Its wonderful all the new research they are doing and have done bringing things like DIBH to us to lessen the damage to our organs.  Best of luck. I start radiation on 26/5.  for 30 sessions.   

Hi ladies. I just read your post Sandram and i just wanted to say that i began my radiation therapy last week. My cancer was in my left breast and i am having Deep Inspiration Breath Hold. My  oncologist showed me the CT scan yesterday so I could see how the radiation works. It was fascinating. I could see how my heart moved out of the way when my breath was held. I dont even have any residual radiation on my heart. So....the next three weeks of Rad wont be as scarey :smiley:

I thought you were referring to the news story on the evening news a week or so ago.
I would also like to try that bra which keeps the breast in place during radiotherapy, rather than having my old boob flopping sideways like a melting ice cream. 

Hi @Bravo  I don't know if the vitamin E cream they prescribed changes the radiation but they said carry the tube in my purse to use straight after the radiation and have the tub at home for use four or so times a day.  No oils, soaps, deodorants Etc.  So presume it's the one they e found to be best for skin after radiation and maybe before as I will be using it before treatment after shower.  Like everything else with this BC journey we are led along like horses knowing little of what is ahead of us & without the time (or thought) to ask WHY?  

Hi again @Bravo. Re the radiation at time of surgery I rand Peter McCallum in Melbourne and spoke to the head of B c nursing and asked about that very type of radiation and she said they'd trialled it ten years ago and weren't doing it still now.  However I did see on to that their Morrqbbin centre had done it recently - but it's very specific for certain aged women, with a certain type of cancer and at a certain stage that was not invasive.  Yes I imagine it would be a very expensive set up having the radiation machine set up,in the theatre.  The computers and the bed are different than those in the theatre....  But if it works lets get it happening.  We hear of so many breakthroughs yet we are still all having the basic same procedures yet.