Fear of radiation after lumpectomy

Once the proton radiation is calculated and administered, that's it. No more is needed.

I only know that it’s supposed to be safer since it uses a different type of radiation & it’s more targeted to the specific area that it’s needed for. Please research any suggested treatments for your type of breast cancer. I’ve found it makes me feel like I’m less helpless, more in control, less stressed & more capable of deciding on what I think is best for “me”. Sometimes the “standard” treatments don’t feel like the best decisions for my specific situation but everybody’s case is different . I’ve found that every related treatment has pro’s & con’s. I’m picking & choosing what I’m willing to risk or not risk.
There’s lots of information on the web for Proton radiation & I’ve found not every facility has one. Here’s 2 links……Good luck & best wishes on your journey!
Here’s a link from the NCI.
https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2020/proton-therapy-safety-versus-traditional-radiation
Another link this is for Susan G Komen
https://www.komen.org/breast-cancer/treatment/type/radiation-therapy/emerging-areas-radiation-therapy/

You can use photons to radiate a small area or: 20 years later, radiate one area with protons. They recommend a mastectomy for me if my cancer comes back.

@rene1636 I’m not familiar w/ proton radiation. If you do that type of radiation, is it possible to radiate that breast again? My understanding is that If you have a breast radiated (usual radiation), you cannot radiate it again. Ask this question due to having a lumpectomy now.

Forgot to tell you,I am in remission.since I couldn’t get the chemo I went to a world renown acupuncturist in Boston. He did wonders for me. Look up Tom. Tam he has classes on line.It is a great addition to your regular cancer therapy. I was a skeptic even when my voters friend was cured of stage 4 stomach cancer, who could tolerate chemo went to him and has been cancer free for 20 years.

It is extremely safe. I had proton radiation to successfully treat prostate cancer in 2018 as well as post-mastectomy proton radiation in 2021. The radiologists who don't have access to it often minimize its advantages, etc. It is an amazing form of radiation because all of the proton's energy is released only at the target. Please locate the nearest proton center and choose it. Good luck.

I have researched Proton radiation & asked my radiologist but where I’m currently being treated it isn’t offered. If I do decide to get radiation I’ll most probably switch to another bigger local cancer center that does offer proton radiation. I think you’re correct, that it’s a safer type of radiation especially in the breast. Thank you for sharing the information!

If you live near a proton radiation center, talk the radiation oncologist. I had 16 treatments post left mastectomy and did fine. Google proton radiation and read about its amazing release of all of the energy right at the target. Good luck.

I had triple negative invasive carcinoma I suffered from several orthopedic injury injuries and I’m in a wheelchair I also had gastrointestinal issues and I couldn’t get an aid during Covid which I would’ve needed in order to get through the chemotherapy because I live alone. My oncologist pushed the chemo and I tried very hard to get any when I couldn’t I realize that maybe God was telling me I really shouldn’t have it probably would’ve killed me I went to radiation over radiated and have horrible side effects from the radiation but this is everybody’s personal decisions you have to weigh all the factors. Quality of life was important to me if I was gonna not be here on the planet for a long time that I didn’t wanna spend it suffering I also am very religious very spiritual and I’m a counselor by trade social worker so I decided to use visualization and work on myself and with the help of God I’m in remission which is really a miracle it’s triple negative it’s hard to cure without all these strong treatments oncologist recommend but I went by my own instincts and intuition and I think that’s what you have to follow you have to weigh the doctors advice how you feel personally about your quality of life and where you are spiritually. You can buy an old saying all those things and you’ll come to the right decision sometimes the standard therapy is a one size fits all which doesn’t fit everybody so everybody has to make their own personal decision. It’s tough but at the end you have control and the best part of fighting cancer is that you don’t let it control you with fear. So all those Warriors out there I salute you for your courage those who went through chemo those who went to radiation and those who decided not to because that also takes courage. God bless you all

I had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation, ending a year ago. The radiation was easy. I don't want to take hormone therapy. I'm 81 years old and tromping around fine. I got neuropathy from the chemo and found help with my balance and pain with a patch from VoxxLife. When my port was removed I think it took longer to heal than what was normal for me and I believe it was from the radiation on my breast.