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Radiation Therapy - duration?

I've been through surgery and am scheduled for radiation therapy.
I live in Australia and have been to my first meeting with doctors at the clinic.
I've been given a choice of treatment duration - 5 week course or 3.5 week course.
I've been told that:
-  here in Australia, the standard is the 5 week course. I've been given the choice however, of the 3.5 week course if I'd prefer.
- I've been told that the 3.5 week course is the standard in Canada.

The doctors here have said that Australia doesn't have enough data based on the 3.5 week course to endorse this as the treatment of choice - unlike Canada.

However, I've been reading others' experiences and am finding differing durations.

I'm just starting out looking for answers and was wondering - based on experience, or education - whatever, what others have found.

Also, were you given a choice of duration?

I just find it all a bit confusing.
I would very much appreciate some input.

Lori
4 Responses
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Avatar universal
Hi,
Sorry about the statistics. Have not read a paper comparing two courses of radiation therapy and hence not in a position to detail out the pros and cons of both courses.
A 3.5 week course of radiotherapy can be had as your oncologist has vouched for it over 5 week course.
Helpful - 0
253389 tn?1215483453
With my 2CM IDC, I rejected the radiation therapy.

If the cancer comes back, I'll have it cut out, again. I'm not going to put myself through that "radiation." For what.

IMO, these "studies" of the benefits of radiation, are SO Old, it's meaningless, today.

In these new days of Digital Mammos and MRIs.

But you do, what's best, for YOU.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your comment sonu78.

I will be getting the external radiation.

The oncologist is the one who has given me the choice.
I asked the doctor for her personal preference - if she was to get this done to herself.
She said she'd go for the 3.5 week course - to save time.
That's her personal preference.

I'm wondering about stats - enough history to give evidence if one is better over the long-term.

And I'm curious what others have gone through too.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,
A brief idea about radiation therapy---
Radiation therapy works within cancer cells to make them unable to multiply. When these cells die, the body naturally eliminates them. Healthy tissue is able to repair itself in a way cancer cells cannot.
There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

It would be ideal to go ahead as per the advise of the surgeon/ radiation oncologist.
Helpful - 0
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