Should I choose 15 or 5 radiation treatments for early stage breast cancer?

Hi Judy I am 63 and have/had 1-A breast cancer and completed 5 days of radiation last month. I will be starting Anastrozole now for 5 years. In addition, I took a bone density test and have osteoporosis. Sigh. The recommendation by my oncologists is Zometa infusions to treat bone loss. All of that being said, I am thankful for all of the advances in breast cancer research. The following link is to an article on the 5 day treatment study: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwye273w5jjo Everyone’s cancer and overall physical health is important in how the course of treatment is made. It’s good to get a second opinion. Sending hugs to you on your journey.

Thank you for sharing.

Both radiation treatment schedules have been shown to be effective for early stage breast cancer, though each approach has different considerations regarding daily commitment versus treatment intensity. These treatment decisions can feel overwhelming, especially when managing other health conditions alongside cancer care. Many community members have navigated similar choices between shorter hypofractionated schedules and conventional fractionation, and their experiences might offer valuable insights as you work with your medical team to determine the best path forward for your specific situation.

I did chemo then 26 rounds of radiation. I too suffered from spinal stenosis and spondilothesis. I was actually scheduled to have back surgery in 2024 but had to postpone due to breast cancer diagnosis. The chemo caused osteopenia. I am doing zometa injections every 3 months for 2 years. I just had back surgery in December and am finally starting to get back to 'normal'. I'm on anastrazole (10 years) and kisqali (3 years). You can do it!

Thank you! So sorry for all you have been through. Glad to hear you are getting back to normal.

I would opt for the extended course of lower dosage—less side effects. Be sure to consult with a radiologist that has years of experience in both options. My radiologist has over 30 years experience and he said they used to use much higher doses years ago but after years of gathering research, they learned the lower doses were just as effective with a lot less side effects ( mostly skin irritation and burns, but also less lung nodules over time).

Thank you!

I, too had 5 radiation treatments plus one extra Booster to zero in on the tumor area since the clear margins were so slight. Research had shown that the fewer doses at higher levels were just as effective as the many doses at lower levels. Keep positive, ask questions, arm yourself with acuaphor lotion in spray form to help with skin care! Wishing you all the best❤️ hugs🥰