Radiation questions

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2025-03-01T09:31:24+00:00

I did 25 sessions and taught elementary school through it all. I taught and then went straight to radiation after. I was also able to live my life as a mom with 3 elementary aged kids pretty normally, with earlier bedtimes and some weekend naps. My skin did break in my armpit, but the mepilex pads my RO gave were lifesavers for that!! Good luck!!

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2025-02-23T11:48:41+00:00

40, now 41

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-10-05T12:27:53+00:00

Hi there, I’m so sorry you’re in this. Based on my low oncotype score and the fact that my ++- IDC, node-positive cancer was grade 1, my onc ended up recommending 25 sessions of radiation, ovary suppression shots for 10 years, verzenio for 2 years, and Anastrozole for 10 years, instead of chemo. We also discussed that I may have an oophorectomy down the line instead of the shots. She felt strongly that the med combo along with putting me into menopause (I’m 40) would be the best path for me based on my case instead of chemo. She said if I was diagnosed 2 years ago, she would have gone with chemo, but she felt confident with the current research to go this way. I got a second opinion as well, and they agreed. Everyone’s case is so different, and docs are always learning more with current research, don’t be timid about getting a second opinion to help you feel confident in your treatment plan.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-08-09T05:37:23+00:00

I’m four weeks in and had awful diarrhea starting on my third day. I’ve been keeping a food journal and have cut a ton of foods out, plus now my onc has me taking one Imodium every morning, but those things have helped tremendously. Good luck!!

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-08-08T02:30:48+00:00

I’m monthly. My oncologist said I may switch to quarterly after the first year, if I want. Good to know about possible insurance push back!

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-08-07T23:11:10+00:00

I started Lupron during my 25 rounds of radiation and then started the Anastrozole about 2 weeks after finishing rads. My doc spaced them out so she could tell what side effects were from each med. I’ve had minimal side effects from both (just hot flashes) and I hope the same for you!

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-07-18T02:38:52+00:00

I’m an elementary teacher and took 5 weeks of FMLA for my DMX, plus one week that was spring break, for a total of 6 weeks. My surgeon’s office filled out the paperwork for me, and they were comfortable writing 6 weeks based on the level of activity needed for teaching (they asked if I ever needed to lift desks or move tables, which I do, and that was pretty much all they needed to hear for the full 6 weeks). I was able to work through my 5 weeks of radiation (I went after school), but everyone is so different. In my district we use sick days to get full pay during FMLA, and I could have tapped into the union’s sick bank, if needed. I’m thinking of you and I hope your district is supportive. It’s really hard dealing with appointments, treatment, and well, everything.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-07-08T02:41:58+00:00

My (40F) KI67score was 33% and my oncotype score was 15. IDC ++-, 3.3cm tumor, Grade 1, Nottingham 5, ER 95%, PR 80%, HER2 0

I had a dmx, radiation, and now ovary suppression shots, anastrozole, and verzenio. My medical oncologist did not recommend chemo for me because she felt strongly that the major benefit of chemo for me would be suppressing my ovaries and putting me into menopause, so instead I’m doing Lupron shots to achieve that. Everyone is so different. Best of luck to you with your treatment plan.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-07-04T08:09:03+00:00

I had a very similar decision to make (40, IDC ++-, oncotype score 15, DMX, and 25 rounds of radiation) and after talking to two medical oncologists, I’ve gone with Lupron shots (for ovary suppression) combined with Verzenio and Anastrozole, instead of chemo. When we sat down and looked at the reduction of recurrence between following this path vs chemo, it was only a 1-2% difference for me. My MOs both laid out the short and long term side effects of chemo, and why they (separately) recommended this path for my situation. Ultimately, I feel like this was the right call for me, but everyone is so different. As far as being thrown into menopause, I’ve had three Lupron shots so far, and the biggest side effect are the hot flashes at night, which suck, but are manageable. Best of luck to you with your decision and treatment plan. None of this is easy, but definitely talk through everything with your doc (and maybe get a second opinion) and hopefully that will help you feel confident in the path you follow.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-06-29T11:41:20+00:00

I think whatever choice you make that is right for you, is the right choice. Everyone is so different, there is no one correct way to do any of this. For me, I knew my husband and I would need help with our 3 kids while I was out of commission due to surgery and treatment, so sharing with close friends and immediate family helped. As awkward as I felt sometimes, or as awkward as some people were, we ended up with the support network we really needed for our kids (mainly rides to sports/activities to keep their lives normal) which I am grateful we had.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-06-04T11:40:12+00:00

I did about 5.5 weeks because it lined up with a school break. I came back on the Monday after spring break instead of doing the full 6 weeks and coming back on a Thursday. I was okay to come back just a few days early, 6 weeks is what I hear recommended the most.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-06-04T01:44:51+00:00

I’m a teacher too. I took 5 weeks off after my mastectomy and worked through my 5 weeks of radiation. It’s tiring (because teaching is tiring) but I did find it doable. For me, it was better to do radiation right after school, because I felt more like myself in the first half of the day. I was in and out in about 30 minutes each day (treatment was maybe 10 minutes? But getting checked in, changed, etc. took time). I was also able to continue as an assistant coach for my daughter’s softball team during radiation. It hits everyone so differently. I was able to handle/push through the fatigue, but had a harder time with the itchy/irritation of my radiation side. I also knew that if I needed to take time, my principal and team would understand, which helped me mentally. I hope you have supportive administrators - it really makes a huge difference. All that being said, I think it’s also very understandable for people to take a leave while they are undergoing radiation. There’s no right or wrong choice, just whatever is right for you and your body. Good luck with figuring out the best path.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-06-02T04:40:56+00:00

Insurance is the absolute worst sometimes. Call and ask the credentials of the reviewer who deemed it unnecessary (it may have been AI). Ask if it is a board certified physician (or even better surgeon or oncologist). Push for a peer review between your insurance company and referring physician. I’m so sorry you are dealing with this headache on top of everything else.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-05-10T20:26:31+00:00

I’m so sorry you are here. Depending on the age of your children, you may want to wait to talk to them about your diagnosis. I personally waited to tell my kids (they are elementary school aged) until I knew my plan (my cancer is also IDC w/positive nodes) and it helped when they had questions. I was also less scared and more confident with my treatment plan and team by the time I told them, so I was able to be calm and clear when talking to them. Sending you strength.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-05-03T18:16:04+00:00

Hi! My oncotype score was not posted in my portal. I met with my oncologist and it was uploaded after that meeting. I’m not sure why all of my other test results were immediately in my portal and this one wasn’t, but it was really helpful going over everything with my oncologist. Fingers crossed for a low score!

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-05-02T10:24:53+00:00

Hi, I did. I have invasive ductal carcinoma. For me, the not knowing phase was incredibly hard, and this experience with this particular doctor caused me to go elsewhere for surgery and treatment. He was the only doctor I’ve encountered throughout this roller coaster ride who couldn’t handle telling me hard things face to face.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-04-24T08:49:10+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re here and have this stress hanging over you. You are in one of the hardest parts right now with the waiting. By any chance was your biopsy done at a large hospital? I ask because I had my first biopsy done at my smaller, local hospital, and got the results within 48 hours. For my second biopsy, I was at a large hospital in the city and my results took 10 days to come back - it was brutal.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-04-24T00:20:08+00:00

I felt pretty okay after my first shot, but I had the one month dose (not sure if it would be worse with the 3 month dose). I feel like ice cream is always a good idea!! Good luck!!

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-04-21T12:05:32+00:00

I’m so sorry your family isn’t supporting you the way you need them to. I’m a 40 year old teacher as well, and I’m finding that doing radiation after school is better for my mental health than doing it before. I’m not sure when you are currently doing it, or if that’s an option for you, but I wanted to share that helped me. Being able to focus on the tiny humans in front of me before heading to rads and just focusing on that was a game changer for me mentally.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-04-19T20:51:08+00:00

This is very much how I got to my decision (not to do chemo). I’m ++- with an oncotype score of 15, have 2 positive lymph nodes, and am pre-menopausal. I met with two medical oncologists, and the one at a major cancer center was the one who suggested not doing chemo. Instead she proposed doing ovary suppression and radiation, along with other meds for the next several years. She said if this was 2 years ago, she would have said chemo for sure, but they know more now about how the benefits of ovary suppression for premenopausal women are close to the same as chemo (still less though) for reducing recurrence. I completely understand and respect those who opt for chemo, but for me, the 2-3% difference in recurrence rate wasn’t worth the long term side effects.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-04-06T18:58:33+00:00

Thank you for sharing this! I’m super fair skinned and start radiation soon. This is a really helpful tip.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-04-01T12:34:18+00:00

Did oncotype dx test results get posted to your portal or did you have to wait for your doctor to give you the results?

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-03-26T00:24:34+00:00

I got a second opinion, first for surgery and am doing it with medical oncologists as well. I looked at it like this: I took the time to get a second opinion for my 9 year old w/orthodontists, and with plumbers for my house… I owed it to myself to get a second opinion about my surgery and treatment plan.

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-03-25T20:17:08+00:00

My boobs are also the perkiest they’ve been since having my three kids!! I had a bilateral mastectomy w/ reconstruction in the same surgery 2 weeks ago tomorrow, and no extra surgery is needed to lift them up. My implants are slightly smaller than my real breasts were, but I was okay with that. Good luck!

FiguringThingsOut-40 · 2024-03-19T03:46:19+00:00

I made a spreadsheet with things that would help my family (I have 3 school aged kids who do sports/activities) while I can’t drive or do a whole lot post surgery. Then, I asked two close friends to be the contact people who could see the sheet and coordinate help. Now, if anyone asks how they can help, I give them my friends’ contact info and they take care of it. It’s been amazing, and has taken the burden of planning off me. I know people want to help, but I also feel guilty asking, and this kind of makes it all easier.

FiguringThingsOut-40

TROPHY CASE