1 Week vs 3 Week Whole Breast Radiation Schedule after Lumpectomy DCIS

Posted by vmadrigal @vmadrigal, Mar 13 8:57am

Are there any downsides to getting the 1 week (FAST-Forward) vs 3 week whole breast radiation schedule after lumpectomy for ER+/PR+ stage 0 DCIS breast cancer in a patient younger than 50 years old? Are there concerns that long term data won't reflect they are equivalent? Is there a difference in cosmetic outcomes? Is one week harder on the skin?

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wyowyld | @wyowyld | 4 days ago

In reply to @vmadrigal "Are you done? How’d it go with the Mepitel? Happy healing." + (show)

Yes! I finished the radiation on Wednesday and I'm happy to say no redness rash or side effects now that I am a full three days out. The Mepitel seems to really work. A breast cancer.org article quoted a study showed it reduced skin symptoms caused by radiation by 80% in breast cancer patients. Well worth it! I have not had nausea, but am experience experiencing mild fatigue in the afternoons. Tough to definitely know what the cause of that is at my age! I will keep you posted as to whether or not anything else develops. A study the doctor showed me showed the one week more intense radiation versus the three weeks produce the same with slightly better results over five years and she suspects when more data is in that will continue. Who knows as the doctors all seem to have different opinions! Thanks for asking and good luck.

kandisn | @kandisn | 3 days ago

In reply to @nanthony723 "I had the one-week radiation therapy following a lumpectomy for Stage 1 lobular breast cancer. I..." + (show)

I had 2 weeks radiation following my lumpectomy stage 1 lobular also. One week full breast and one week where the tumor was. I was the same no pain, no burning. Rang the bell last Friday!

Rubyslippers | @triciaot | 3 days ago

In 2022, I had 5 day VMAT hypo-fractionalized partial breast radiation for ER/PR+ DCIS, no nodes, after breast conserving surgery. 600 cGy each session, total 3000 cGy. I had it five days in a row. I think the center is now doing it every other day, for a total of 5 sessions. Not sure if that is to improve outcome or if it’s easier to schedule that way.

I did not have any skin issues. I was fatigued. Hard to tell when that stopped as I started tamoxifen 1 month after radiation. It took about 5 months to start feeling more like me.

VMAT - volumetric modulated arc therapy
I also “drove” the machine with my breath. When I breathed in deep enough, and held it, the radiation started. It stopped when I breathed out.