MammoSite after 10 weeks?

imadare6 · Regular Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 20 Location: Indiana

Am I being paranoid or is someone goofing up with me. Resection was 11/3, was given the pamphlet on MammoSite, which sounded good to me, was told do it after first of year. I finally called 2 times right before Xmas thinking to schedule things as I had not received the call he promised. Last call I left I mentioned my primary doctor would be calling next so I did get a reply. I saw radiologist/oncologist Mon and he said looks o.k. and surgeon would schedule placement. Surgeon's office called today and said Feb 2. I questioned this as pamphlet said it had to be done within 10 weeks of the lumpectomy(10 would be next week). She acted like never heard of that and did not even know when I had had the lumpectomy. I asked her to please mention this to doctor and she said she would but I am not betting on that. So I am thinking am I getting set up too late and this is all for nothing or what. I know he is good surgeon but the office routine needs a general overhaul.

Guess just go with the flow but I am worried as will just have to do nothing if it goes to the 6 week deal.
_________________
DCIS 9/04
2 surgeries
MammoSite starting 2/2/05

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

From the papers that I've seen I thought it was supposed to happen within 10 weeks, but it still can be done at anytime. The time is only supposed to wait until the breast is somewhat healed.

regards,
Leo
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

imadare6 · Regular Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 20 Location: Indiana

Thanks for the reply. I am trying to just wait out the next 3 weeks, but keep having thoughts like it will be too healed to insert tube and then be back to the 6 week treatment. I feel sure the nurse did not talk to Doctor as I asked, this would mean changing her schedule and she would not like that. I am going to have to let him know I was very unhappy with lack of communication throughout all this (especially the call he told me he would make and didn't) and anxiety it has caused. I am not usually an uptight person as have had 12 surgeries since 1995 but for some reason this has upset me.
_________________
DCIS 9/04
2 surgeries
MammoSite starting 2/2/05

Roxi1 · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: MammoSite after 10 weeks?

From my brief review of the literature, mammosites are still being researched. They are not currently the standard of care. Although, all the current findings indicate that it is equal to, if not superior to conservative radiation therapy.
as mamm. are currently still being researched, it is impt that strict research protocols are observed, one of which is that mamm.'s can be done 'up to' 10 weeks of the lumpectomy. The lit. seems to indicate that the reason the 10 weeks is chosen, is that after that, the tumor bed is more difficult to ascertain. And, it is imperative that the radiation reach each edge of the tumor bed.
Leo, with your computer capabilities, you are probably 'the' person to research this question more easily than I am. I think as mamm. become more and more the 'state of the art/standard of care' these type of questions will become increasingly more evident. Therefore, it would provide such a benefit if you could evaluate the current literature re: the 10 week s/p lumpectomy restriction.
Thank you
Roxanne
PS: wish I were in an area of the country where mamm. were available to me You are lucky you are eligible for this treatment. Good luck imadere with being able to follow-through with this treatment option.
_________________
Roxanne
Lumpectomy R. Breast 1/5/05, Post-Menopausal
1.2 cm invasive ductal CA
Histology Grade 2
Estrogen/Progesterone +
Her-2/neu Negative
Nodes negative, 2 Sentinel, 8 other nodes
RT 28+5, Tamoxifen (as osteoporosis)

imadare6 · Regular Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 20 Location: Indiana

Roxil: Under Proxima Therapeutics site you can search for where in your particular area MammoSites are being done. It has to be a pretty small area though, but also saw a release that they are making a bigger balloom.

I do know they state the tube can be put in at time of lumpectomy/calcification removal. But I would wonder how they would be sure margins were clear. Radiologist showed me pictures of balloom insert, good ones that filled the cavity completely, and bad ones that had some area not filled. In that case he said they would remove tube and wait awhile before reinserting It just looks to me like that "hole" where calcifications were removed would heal through completely...just have to see what happens I guess.
_________________
DCIS 9/04
2 surgeries
MammoSite starting 2/2/05

Roxi1 · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 7:23 pm Post subject: Re: MammoSite after 10 weeks?

Hi imadare6
I'm with you: how would they know if margins were clear? Although my surgeon, when I talked with him on phone, was absolutely positive when he took my tumor out, that the margins were clear..........
Guess if margins were not, they would have to start over. Take balloon out, and wait till re-excision and try again?
I also agree with you that the 'hole' where tumor or calcifications were, would 'fill in' eventually. My guess is that this process starts almost immediately, and probably has most of the 'glue stuff' in place for further regeneration at about the 10 week mark. I know this happens with sentinel node biopsies. The accuracy diminishes if you have the biopsy after the lumpectomy, even if only 2 weeks has gone by. Not by a lot, but some.
I hope you let me know what happens with you. I am crossing my fingers and saying my prayers that it all works out the way you would like.

I will look up the site you told me about. I wonder, if my Radiologist could refer me to a place out of state? My cancer was 1.2 cm dense at the widest point, so from that stand point, I think I am eligible. I haven't had the sentinel node yet though, so will wait to hear the results from that. I also won't get the full path report back until tomorrow, so......before I can even think of my future, need to hear what that report has to say. I have to 'pace myself' Smile

. I always want to jump ahead about 3-6 months into the future, and guess this cancer journey is not like that for anyone; at least not in the acute phase of the journey. At this point, only know I have a 1.2 carcinoma which was in Right breast, 5 cm from nipple, and 1 c.m. deep.

Roxanne
_________________
Roxanne
Lumpectomy R. Breast 1/5/05, Post-Menopausal
1.2 cm invasive ductal CA
Histology Grade 2
Estrogen/Progesterone +
Her-2/neu Negative
Nodes negative, 2 Sentinel, 8 other nodes
RT 28+5, Tamoxifen (as osteoporosis)

imadare6 · Regular Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 20 Location: Indiana

Think I finally have my answer. While reading Proxima Therapeutics site about their MammoSite I noticed a "contact us" tab. I clicked on it and sent message asking about problems after the 10 week period. I forgot about it but then got a telephone call from a representative of the company yesterday. She was very nice and told me the procedure would still be just as effective, the only problem would be if the area had closed so much the balloom could not be inserted. So now I know and it is just a matter of crossing my fingers that I am still open enough. How nice to get someone who actually pays a little attention to you. Razz

_________________
DCIS 9/04
2 surgeries
MammoSite starting 2/2/05

Roxi1 · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 11:14 am Post subject: Re: MammoSite after 10 weeks?

I am glad you found someone who was responsive.

Let me know what happens.

Good luck
Roxanne
_________________
Roxanne
Lumpectomy R. Breast 1/5/05, Post-Menopausal
1.2 cm invasive ductal CA
Histology Grade 2
Estrogen/Progesterone +
Her-2/neu Negative
Nodes negative, 2 Sentinel, 8 other nodes
RT 28+5, Tamoxifen (as osteoporosis)

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