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I also found this quote regarding damage to the heart:
According to Harris, women who received radiation treatment more than five years ago should keep a closer eye on their heart health than women who have undergone treatment more recently, because advances in techniques and equipment have reduced the heart's exposure to radiation.
I think the real issue is, what is the risk of a recurrence of breat cancer wthout radiation therapy vs the very small possibility of damage to the heart or lungs with radiation therapy. Certainly, if a patient is a smoker or has a history of heart disease, that should be disclosed to the radiation oncologist. I would still think, however, that treatment would be recommended unless the patient had severely compromised heart or lung function. I am curious as to what the radiation oncologist's assessment of the overal risk would be vs no treatment?
-----Original Message-----
From: hlsrbd@...
To: friendsforlifefoundation@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 12:18 pm
Subject: Re: [friendsforlifefoundation] Re: Radiation
According to Harris, women who received radiation treatment more than five years ago should keep a closer eye on their heart health than women who have undergone treatment more recently, because advances in techniques and equipment have reduced the heart's exposure to radiation.
I think the real issue is, what is the risk of a recurrence of breat cancer wthout radiation therapy vs the very small possibility of damage to the heart or lungs with radiation therapy. Certainly, if a patient is a smoker or has a history of heart disease, that should be disclosed to the radiation oncologist. I would still think, however, that treatment would be recommended unless the patient had severely compromised heart or lung function. I am curious as to what the radiation oncologist's assessment of the overal risk would be vs no treatment?
-----Original Message-----
From: hlsrbd@...
To: friendsforlifefoundation@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 12:18 pm
Subject: Re: [friendsforlifefoundation] Re: Radiation
After having read accounts of hundreds of people undergoing radiation treatment, I still never heard of one who had any ill effects to their heart or lungs from the treatment, when propertly administered. The risk of damage to the lung or heart is so small as to be inconsequential in otherwise healthy patients. My wife underwent radiation after her lumpectomy and had dozens of chest X-Ray, CT scans, pulmonary and heart function tests without any ever showing any ill effects.
There is probaby a higher risk of radiation induced sarcoma than damage to a patient's heart or lung from photon radiation to the breast.
Rradiation techniques used now treat much less of the heart than those used in the past. Current studies have found no increased risk of serious heart disease in patients treated with modern techniques even 10 to 20 years after radiotherapy treatment was given. However, there is still some uncertainty about the risks of radiation causing heart disease for individuals who smoke or have pre-existing heart disease, or for those who receive certain chemotherapy drugs. It is likely that such risks will also be found to be very small.
-----Original Message-----
From: l.castronovo <l.castronovo@yahoo.com>
To: friendsforlifefoundation@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 9:25 am
Subject: [friendsforlifefoundation] Re: Radiation
There is probaby a higher risk of radiation induced sarcoma than damage to a patient's heart or lung from photon radiation to the breast.
Rradiation techniques used now treat much less of the heart than those used in the past. Current studies have found no increased risk of serious heart disease in patients treated with modern techniques even 10 to 20 years after radiotherapy treatment was given. However, there is still some uncertainty about the risks of radiation causing heart disease for individuals who smoke or have pre-existing heart disease, or for those who receive certain chemotherapy drugs. It is likely that such risks will also be found to be very small.
-----Original Message-----
From: l.castronovo <l.castronovo@
To: friendsforlifefound
Sent: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 9:25 am
Subject: [friendsforlifefoun
--- In friendsforlifefoundation@yahoogroups.com , "pathlaw1"
<hlsrbd@...> wrote:
>
> --- In friendsforlifefoundation@yahoogroups.com , "Hillary Sweet"
> <hillary@> wrote:
> >
> > Someone I know is going to have to have radiation after her
> > lumpectomy. She is concerned that radiation is going to affect
her
> > heart and may lead to other problems. They are going to be
radiating
> > the whole breast. Has anyone heard that this is a concern? Maybe
> > someone who has had radiation can make her feel better about the
> > treatment. I would really appreciate people sharing their
radiation
> > experiences. Thanks. Hillary
>
> I have never heard or read about radiation causing damage to the
heart.
> The photon beam only penetrates so far and does not extend to the
heart
> in any amount to cause any damage. The beam itself is tailored to
a
> particular patient in each case.
>
> Jeff
> >
>It may be intersting for people to know that (according to my
radiation oncologist), there actually is minimal exposure to the
lung and heart. Before treatment, the doctors map out your
organs, and can see how much radiation your lung and heart will
receive. Typically there is a little scarring to the lung that
is detectable on x-rays. Before treatment, your doctor can show
you how much radiation your heart and lung will receive. Loren
<hlsrbd@...> wrote:
>
> --- In friendsforlifefound
> <hillary@> wrote:
> >
> > Someone I know is going to have to have radiation after her
> > lumpectomy. She is concerned that radiation is going to affect
her
> > heart and may lead to other problems. They are going to be
radiating
> > the whole breast. Has anyone heard that this is a concern? Maybe
> > someone who has had radiation can make her feel better about the
> > treatment. I would really appreciate people sharing their
radiation
> > experiences. Thanks. Hillary
>
> I have never heard or read about radiation causing damage to the
heart.
> The photon beam only penetrates so far and does not extend to the
heart
> in any amount to cause any damage. The beam itself is tailored to
a
> particular patient in each case.
>
> Jeff
> >
>It may be intersting for people to know that (according to my
radiation oncologist), there actually is minimal exposure to the
lung and heart. Before treatment, the doctors map out your
organs, and can see how much radiation your lung and heart will
receive. Typically there is a little scarring to the lung that
is detectable on x-rays. Before treatment, your doctor can show
you how much radiation your heart and lung will receive. Loren
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