The last of my team visits is complete. We met with the Radiation specialist, Dr. Ludwig, who called herself The Tie Breaker. She is the one who decides whether to treat me for inflammatory breast cancer or not. It doesn’t change chemo and it doesn’t change surgery, but it does affect the dose of radiation.
Apparently MD Anderson is the only treatment center in the world who even considers increasing radiation for inflammatory breast cancer. All others fall within “the guidelines” giving a particular daily dose of radiation. They are finding success with the additional treatment preventing cancer from returning, however, so it makes sense to me. Although it is still in the infancy stages to really know the long-term effects at this point, MD Anderson will either increase the daily dose or treat with radiation twice per day (for six weeks).
Dr. Ludwig looked at the guidelines and my history, examined me, and after an hour-plus consult came to the conclusion that we will need to “wait and see.” She does believe the chemo is having some effect, but we need to wait for the pathology report. Once chemotherapy is complete and the surgeon has removed any cancer remains, they send it to the lab. The pathology report will show how effective the chemotherapy has been. In other words, they will determine if there are still living cancer cells in the mass. Then Dr. Ludwig will know what dose of radiation to use. She said she isn’t going to bring me in twice a day (whew!) but she might increase the daily dose. No use worrying about it – we’ll just wait and see.
Radiation does not make you radioactive (smile). I won’t glow in the dark or pass on radiation to others. It won’t prevent me from living my daily life, and in fact the treatment only takes a few minutes per session. (It takes longer to park and get undressed than it does to do the actual treatment.) It will, however, kill any remaining microscopic cancer cells that could still be active in my body after the surgeon does her thing. And she will give me a bright red sunburn. The simulation will occur a few weeks after surgery, and then radiation will begin.
After three trips to MD Anderson this week, I was pretty tired by the end of the day. In fact, I went home and took a long afternoon nap. I needed that!
I really like MD Anderson. They are very thorough in their approach. They are not waiting until after surgery for each consult, as they need to see me before the full effects of chemotherapy have taken place. They are preparing for each step of treatment, and all the professionals are meeting together presenting my case to the various teams. I know I am in good hands, and continually thank God for the doctors He has placed in my path.