Radiation Advice

Hi Sarah, What a lovely daughter you are looking out for your mum like this. Oh, so your mum is hormone positive? Surgical margin clear? My hormone receptors were negative so didn't need hormonal therapy and HER 2 was negative as well so no need for herceptin.. ( a drug needed for 5 years I think) yeah, all up I was recommended 4 x AC every 3wks for 3mths ( this was the hardest) and then taxol weekly for 3mths. The biggest challenge I found was navigating all around this! What helped was my journey kit. Get hold of that as its a great introduction to this mindfield. My surgeon has been great. My oncologist gauged my reaction as the weeks wore on. I needed the booster shots to increase my white cell count so maybe your mums is on the low side hence not too much chemo as it does effect your white cell count.. I would ask the question and mention my treatment plan if you like. Well, I had good news this week. Had my mammogram and ultra sound and it was all clear- yay! Such relief! I'm looking at reconstruction next year as after radio needs to heal for a few more months. Oh and my surgeon said inplants are a no go after radio . So I'm looking at using bit of tummy, skin off back etc.. The other thing to be aware of too is that once you start radio the doctors said I must complete the treatment. No stopping mid way. Its a tough one. They also said not to wait more than 4wks after chemo.. My fear was damage to my heart and lungs but they positioned the rays on an angle. Also, I had no radio to my armpit. Just the chest wall. My surgeon made sure of that. Doing so increases risk of Lymphadema. I hope this helps, here if you have any other questions :) cheers, Donna