Anyone have experience with APBI (Partial Breast Irradiation)?

Posted by daisyviolet @daisyviolet, Sep 6, 2022

Anyone familiar with external partial radiation for early stage BC? I am 8 weeks post lumpectomy and deciding on radiation for my left breast...which has me concerned about my heart. I am 64 years old and my Stage 1 cancer was caught early at 4mm, ER+, PR+, HER2 Neg, Neg Nodes. Might just skip the radiation and try the hormones or skip it all. Totally unsure at this point. Onco 14, and no genetic predisposition.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 15, 2022

Hi @daisyviolet, fellow members @jejones @beazerholt45 @ellerbracke @sandyrob @slfisher1976 had partial breast radiation or considered it, and may be able to share their experiences.

Treatment decision making is so hard. Daisy, do you have a pre-existing heart condition?

sandyrob | @sandyrob | Sep 16, 2022

I had a similar dx and was 74 at the time. Had 3 sessions of partial breast radiation at Mayo with no side effects.

daisyviolet | @daisyviolet | Sep 16, 2022

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @daisyviolet, fellow members @jejones @beazerholt45 @ellerbracke @sandyrob @slfisher1976 had partial breast radiation or considered it,..." + (show)

My heart is good.

Studies have found a link between radiation therapy for breast cancer and a higher risk of heart and lung problems, especially if the cancer is in the left breast, the same side as the heart.
This information is provided by Breastcancer.org.

And I understand the risks are low but still concerning to me.

moverland | @moverland | Sep 16, 2022

In reply to @sandyrob "I had a similar dx and was 74 at the time. Had 3 sessions of partial..." + (show)

Absolutely no side effects at all from the 3-day partial breast radiation!!!👍

virginiae | @virginiae | Oct 18, 2022

I met the criteria for APBI so that’s what I had - 2 sessions a day for 5 days. I had some uncomfortable sunburn-like after effects, but never had the intense fatigue people describe from longer courses of radiation. So I was happy to skip that part and be done in just a week.

pacentro | @pacentro | Oct 25 9:19am

I heard about Proton PBI. Seems like a good choice, but few venues have it. I am thinking also about asking my Radiation Onco about the three-day course with precise beam delivery. There doesn't seem to be a lot of talk about this. I had Stage 1a, estro+, prgestro+, small tumor 4.5mm. Good prognosis, but I am not sure about radiation. Definitely no aromatase inhibitors. I am 78.

Rubyslippers | @triciaot | Oct 25 7:24pm

I had partial breast radiation, right breast, 7 mm ER/PR+ DCIS no nodes, intermediate grade, 68 yo at the time. Radiation was hypofractionalized 3000 Gy total, 600 a day for 5 days.
I attached a photo of the radiation pattern, more was targeted at cancer site.

I had no surface skin issues. They say I have thickened skin, but I can’t really tell. I have some lumpiness in that area, it seems to be unknown if it’s internal scar from the surgery or necrosis from radiation. There was a fair amount rearranging of the breast tissue - I had a lumpectomy and a plastic surgeon fixed it so it’s not noticeable. I’m now 71, and on 5 mg tamoxifen.

newtosc | @newtosc | Oct 26 12:28pm

It is very hard to know what to do - I start the 5 day program on my left breast and it all worries me. My Onc says that I could almost forgo 5 years of Tamoxifen which I would prefer. I am drug adverse and try to
manage thru exercise and foods. But... then what if? It's all a crap shoot. I am probably going to do the radiation to get to 99%, try drugs to see how I do and go from there. Sad part, is I waited a bit too long to do a ton of research but also, radiation is not something I can do in 6 months - Now is the time..