Radiation dose for stage 1a

[desalonde]

I had lumpectomy with margins close to but not involving skin. I am now week 7 total weeks from surgery. I was told to allow 4-6 weeks to heal and I did have a lot of brusing and arm pain post op lumpectomy and sentinel node removal(negative). I am hormone pos, Her -
I have read about side effects both early and very late occurring from rads and it's scarry. I have also read about recurrence rates and need for boost....
My question: what is dose that is advised?
I get inconsistent info from different RO docs-one said 50 to whole breast and 6 to boost at tumor bed;
another said 50 not needed for recurrence control and advised 14+6;
another said he treats 50+10.....
I am scared, confused and running out of time for optimal treatment sequence!!!!! HELP!

[desalonde]

Thank you for taking the time for the reply,Zouzi. I appreciate your thoughts and good wishes. I wish you the best also.

[zouzi]

You are welcome.
Well,since there isn't a great difference between the two recommendations  I would go for the one given by the Doctor I feel I could trust more and who has more experience.Also you should consider the fact that you may or may NOT experience long term side effects to your nerve and muscles,whether you choose one or the other.
I agree that Radiotherapy can be tough on some people,but we really have no choice ....The most  IMPORTANT thing now,is to concentrate on your health and to go ahead with the treatments that your Oncologist recommends, to substantially reduce the risk of cancer re-growing in the breast.
I wish you good luck and health...

[desalonde]

Thanks for the reply zouzi. I actually made a typo. One rather locally renowned RP in MI advised 45Gy to whole breast ( not 14 as I mistyped) with 16 Gy boost in 33 treatments and total 61 Gy; another locally in TN said 50Gy with 16Gy boost total 66Gy in 36 treatments.
The3rd RO I have decided to disregard as likely too low and he did not look closely at my pathology.
I am basically agonizing over a 61Gy vs 66 Gy dose plan an worried about long term side effects to nerves and muscles in addition to comesis. I am a very athletically active person in upper body dependent water sports and an impairment caused by a treatment would be a significant loss of quality to my life which I am hoping is preventable while keeping a recurrence away.
I am 7 weeks out from surgery so I need to start RT within a week or stats say I add some points to my recurrence despite any RT. Not enough time for yet a 4th RO opinion and appointment and all the precedent slides etc. they need to review.
That is my quandary and what keeps me anxious.
That's my quandry

[zouzi]

Hi,
I am afraid no one can tell you how many radiotherapy sessions you'll be needing.This treatment is planned specifically for you by your Oncologist who studied your case based on many factors,such as tumor size,type of breast surgery,shape of your breast and body etc....
I understand that 2 Oncologists almost recommend the same treatment but the 3rd one does not.
If I were you, I would opt to go with one of the first two.But if you still cannot make up your mind on how to proceed,seeking a 4th opinion from a different Oncologist could eventually help you decide what is the best course of action.
My personal experience with radiation therapy was not  bad at all,since I had only 20 radiation sessions in total.
All I know is that there are usually no immediate side effects from each radiation treatment given to the breast.
Most patients develop mild fatigue that builds up gradually over the course of therapy.This slowly goes away one to two months following treatment.
Most patients develop dull aches or sharp shooting pains in the breast that may last for a few seconds or minutes.The most common side effect needing attention is skin reaction,like reddening, dryness and itching of the skin after a few weeks.
If you have any problems during your treatment,tell your Oncologist who will surely advise you on how to care for your skin or other problems that may arise.
Hoping that your radiotherapy treatment will go smoothly without much complications.
Wishing you all the best...