Last I left off, I was getting ready to see a radiation oncologist to see if I was a candidate for breast re-radiation.  I made an appointment and saw Dr. E. At first, Dr. E  thought my oncologist lost his mind because you just don’t re-radiate.  The doctor advised that some of the possible side effects to radiation therapy included lymphedema (swelling) of my right arm, rib fractures, heart damage, etc..etc.  Dr. E hadn’t realized that I had been diagnosed with breast cancer for a 3rd time.  Once he understood, he stated that he wanted to put my case before a “tumor board” (basically a bunch of doctors get together to discuss a case), because my case was so interesting and unusual.  Great! My case is interesting and unusual! Why can’t I win the lottery? That would be interesting and unusual!

It was the opinion of The Tumor Board that my third diagnosis (August 2012) was most likely cancer cells that were left behind in the needle track from the needle biopsy I had in November of 2011.  Because I had a skin sparing mastectomy, all of the cancer cells were not removed.  The Tumor Board recommended additional radiation therapy.  Apparently the chemotherapy I was on at the time, did not kill the cells that were in my breast.  A doctor (can’t remember which one) told me that it was possible that the chemotherapy didn’t stop the tumor growth in my breast because I had so much scar tissue, so the chemotherapy didn’t circulate through the area very well.  Dr. E also recommended I get a second opinion with a radiation oncologist who dealt solely with breast radiation.  He recommended a specific doctor based out of NYU.

I was able to get an appointment for 10 days later with the doctor (Dr. F) at NYU.  My appointment was scheduled for 11 am.  I arrived at 10:30 am.  When I paid my co-payment, I was given a receipt and when I looked at the receipt, the doctor listed wasn’t Dr. F  & my appointment time was changed to 12 pm.  I brought this to the attention of the receptionist and was told that Dr. F was busy and that I was going to see a doctor that worked closely with Dr. F instead. (No one called me to tell me that my appointment time had been changed).  This doctor was also running behind schedule & the receptionist was unsure as to when I would actually see this other doctor.  I had plans to go to lunch so I asked if my appointment could be rescheduled until later.  I rescheduled for 2:30 pm.  I returned at 2:20 pm & the receptionist seemed surprised to see me.  I was brought into an exam room and a nurse entered a short time later.  She told me that they had just started using a new computer system so they were running behind.  About a half hour later, a very young looking doctor came into the exam room and started examining me.  I asked how old he was because he looked very young.  It turned out he was Dr. F’s intern.  I had no problem being seen by an intern because I know that doctors have to train & I was informed that the other doctor would be in shortly.  Apparently the doctor was discussing my interesting and unusual case with other attending doctors.  I waited about an hour for the doctor to come in an examine me.  He did an exam & then explained the possible side effects and various techniques they could use for radiating me (radiating twice a day).  He then explained that since I had such an unusual case, he really wanted me to see Dr. F.  Well Duh! That’s who I made an appointment with in the first place! He told me that it would be at least an hour as Dr. F had some sort Dept. Chair meeting (or something).  I could have left the office and come back but I was wearing  heels and I didn’t feel like walking around the city.  I didn’t see Dr. F until a couple hours later and I was totally confused by what she had to say.  I think I was at the office for far too long.  I started to feel like I was in a Charlie Brown movie. After listening to 3 different doctors, all I heard was “wah wah wah”.  The bottom line was that Dr. F recommended that I be re-radiated as well.

*Recommendation from me- the first time you see any doctor, don’t go alone.  I was overwhelmed with information & after awhile, I heard nothing.

The day of Superstorm Sandy, I had a PET Scan. When we left the office, the wind was whipping like crazy.   I am not good with MRI’s and PET Scans.  I never used to have a problem with these tests but now I get anxiety and I freak out.  Xanax anyone?  The PET Scan results were negative, thank God.

I started radiation therapy about a week after Superstorm Sandy.  Prior to radiation starting, I had a CAT Scan to map my right breast.  This occurred about a week before I actually started.  The physicists do their calculations and a radiation plan is made.  A foam-like form is also made prior to radiation therapy.  The form is made so that you are always in the same position during radiation, with your arm over your head.  I went to radiation therapy for 5 days a week for approximately 7 weeks.  The areas radiated included my whole right breast, my armpit, the subclavicular lymph nodes, and the mastectomy scar.  I ended up with a very nasty looking radiation burn.  Every day, I put Aquaphor on my breast.  I also had prescriptions for hydrocortisone & silvadene.   Right before Christmas, Dr. E gave me a week off from radiation because my skin was looking really crappy.  My right underarm was peeling and my breast was extremely itchy and achy.  On Christmas day, I ended up having an allergic reaction to something (possibly a combination of the silvadene cream and shrimp) and spent the evening in the Emergency Room.  This was after an EMT and paramedics showed up at my house.  It was quite the adventure.  NOT! I finished radiation on January 7th, a few days after my 46th birthday.

The actual radiation therapy itself doesn’t take very long.  I’d show up at the radiation center, change into a gown, sit and drink some hot cocoa & wait to get called into the radiation room. Before I entered the room, a radiation tech would scan my bracelet.  I’d enter the radiation room, the tech would lay a sheet and my foam like form onto the table.  I’d lie down and the tech would place the radiation machine in the proper position and then leave the room.  Then the machine would start doing it’s thing.  The actual radiating took about 2 minutes.  Sometimes the techs would take a few X-Rays, so it would take a few minutes longer.  Then I’d be done.  I’d leave the radiation room & change back into my street clothes.  Once a week, I’d see the radiation oncologist, Dr. E or Dr. G & then I’d be on my way.

Besides the nasty radiation burn, my side effects included fatigue, and itching and pain at the radiation site.

Radiation Burn