Radiation Eve

I am writing this note on the eve of my first radiation treatment. For many years, every woman diagnosed with breast cancer had no alternative but to have a mastectomy. However, for more than two decades, lumpectomy and radiation (together called breast conservation therapy) have increasingly been used to treat patients with early stage breast cancer (Stage O, I, and II). I am thankful that my tumor was caught very early and was classified as Stage I.

Two steps are involved in the breast conservation therapy. First, a lumpectomy is performed to remove the cancerous tumor. That step was done on April 20, and I have recovered well. Second, I will have the partial breast radiation which will target the area of the breast that has the highest risk for recurrence of the cancer.

The partial radiation approach minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissue.

Last Wednesday I had outpatient surgery in the surgeon's office. At that time, the surgeon made a small incision in the same site where the tumor was removed. He then implanted a catheter which had a polyurethane balloon on the end. After the catheter was placed in the cavity where the small tumor had been removed, the balloon was inflated with fluid.

During the next five days, I will go twice a day for the radiation treatments which will last about 20 minutes each time. During each treatment, a radioactive seed will be inserted in the catheter, and moved to the balloon to treat the target tissue. After each treatment, the seed will be removed.

Much of the information that I have shared tonight has been gleaned from materials that I have read over the last few weeks, as this is very new to me. I will be forever grateful to those who have lifted me up (and continue to do so) with your love, support, and prayers since the beginning of April when the cancer was diagnosed.