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Celebrating 25 years of lung cancer

Lung Cancer | Last Active: Sep 10, 2023 | Replies (125)

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@merpreb

My lungs are sensitive, so I had a lot of irritation and needed to be on a heavy dose of prednisone. I chose to have 5 treatments over 5 days. I did that because I go to Mass General, and it's in Boston. Everything is expensive there, so I wanted to get it done so I could get home to take care of my husband who was showing signs of dementia. I was so tired and short of breath. But it was the only way, given my circumstances, that I could get back to my husband.

The time before this, my back was a bit sunburned, but I didn't even notice it. Fatigue. Did your doctor mention the type of radiation that he wants to use?

But, I do suggest that you hop on a decision as fast as you can so that the beams can start destroying those cancer cells.

One question that I might ask your doctor is the differences in outcomes and side effects between the two. Get the name and research it.

It's confusing, I know, but your craziness will calm down once you make a decision. Also, they can keep an eye on how your tumors are doing to see if they might need to increase the dose or adjust it.

Does this make sense?

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Replies to "My lungs are sensitive, so I had a lot of irritation and needed to be on..."

Hi Merry. Just saw your comment about radiation and irritation. Last week I did 3 sessions of SBRT (photon) for a nodule (and a little one right next to it which was just asking for it). They originally said 5 sessions but could up dose and did in three. I have had no skin irritation and would not know I had radiation. You mention back being sunburned. Did they turn you over and do from back?
I have read that SBRT is from 3 to 8 sessions depending on relevant factors. Mayo told me that they used to separate sessions one day on and one day off but found there was no benefit, so they do every day without skipping a day.
My rib cage/lungs are still sore from surgery on other lung 3 months ago, so I am not sure of the impact of radiation on the other lung. I had SOB before and still have so can't tell the difference. How do you know if you have pneumonitis?