@northoftheborder
Thank you for all the information. I didn’t know that! Did your side effects improve from the radiation? Or is it all the physical work that you have put into getting better? I try to walk better or do some of the physical therapy exercises. However, it doesn’t seem like it improves. It seems like it gets worse. And then I get very down like I’m in the same loop every day and can barely help myself even if I want to.

It sounds like my doctors back home were following the older method. They told me not to have surgery on my breast and to have only 1 radiation treatment. They said wait on the heavy duty chemo until there are no other options. I did take a lighter version of chemo which was still tiring but I could manage and didn’t lose my hair.

When I came here they said do the heavy chemo for life, over 15 radiation treatments plus cyber knife, bone strengthening infusion treatments and I’m sure they were going to suggest the works of medications. After the radiation and bone treatments I felt so sick. Actually my doctor back home told me that they don’t recommend the bone treatments for me either.

I haven’t been back there in well over a year. I was in so much pain, couldn’t walk and didn’t know how I could get myself to my appointments or walk to the the building manage it all on my own. After the damage was revealed from my radiation treatments the radiation department cut me off and told me to talk to my oncologist about everything. The radiation doctor said he was surprised that my hip joint had been damaged because it doesn’t usually reach that area. That’s all I heard but never got any suggestions on what to do about it. I went to an orthopedic surgeon who said they were supposed to refer me to him first before doing any radiation. I had to ask for a physical therapist. They never mentioned it. Several months ago I requested a surgery referral for my breast. They say I need a referral to speak to any breast surgeon. But never heard back from them for the referral. I thought perhaps they sent me a letter but I checked all my letters. I got nothing. I really don’t feel comfortable with this cancer center.

Anyway, thank you for letting me get that off my mind. It’s the first time I’ve really talked about it.