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A MyBCTeam Member asked a question 💭
Galt, CA

Can anyone who has refused radiation share their experience? I'm looking for any other ways to prevent recurrence through diet, alternative therapies etc.. but can't find much useful data on how these methods stack up against just doing radiation.

Thoughts??

August 26, 2018
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Reactions
A MyBCTeam Member

I refused radiation, the numbers weren’t there for me. It was so low that the risk wasn’t worth it. Radiation is a one shot deal. My area was right over my heart.

September 28, 2018
A MyBCTeam Member

Really radiation isn't all that bad. I drank protein shakes after each treatment and it helped alot. Also put alot of lotion on.

October 20, 2025
A MyBCTeam Member

Personally I would not go with dieting instead of radiation These are very difficult choices to make. Some women believe the supplement route is good
,if I was an earlier stage cancer I would probably have done a lot of treatments so I wouldn't want to reach stage 4 . Perhaps you can do half the number of radiations they are prescribing. I think they overkill when ordering radiation . I wish you good luck and the strength as you ponder your options.❤️

October 20, 2025
A MyBCTeam Member

I start today. I spoke with a lady about alternative medicine but I would not do what she did. She went to Mexico. She would not take endocrine pills. Her tumor did decrease in size, but did not go away until surgery. She had some good comments on radiation but other ideas would leave me feeling not safe.

October 20, 2025
MyBCTeam

Radiation therapy is a common treatment for breast cancer. Here are some key points from the knowledge base:

Types of Radiation Therapy
1. External Beam Radiation:
- Most common form.
- Beams of energy are projected from a machine into the body.
- Targets locations such as the whole breast, lymph nodes, or other Show Full Answer

Radiation therapy is a common treatment for breast cancer. Here are some key points from the knowledge base:

Types of Radiation Therapy:
1. External Beam Radiation:
- Most common form.
- Beams of energy are projected from a machine into the body.
- Targets locations such as the whole breast, lymph nodes, or other affected areas.

2. Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy):
- Direct and localized.
- Involves implanting a small catheter or device near the surgical site.
- Radioactive pellets are introduced via the catheter or device.
- May require less time than external beam therapy.

Treatment Process:
- External Beam Radiation:
- Delivered five days a week for up to seven weeks.
- Accelerated breast irradiation can be twice daily for one to three weeks.
- Involves positioning and marking the skin for accurate targeting.
- Patients need to lie still during treatment.

- Internal Radiation:
- May involve surgically placing a device in the breast.
- Treatment can be twice a day for as little as five days.
- Implants are attached to a computer-controlled machine for precise delivery.

Additional Treatments:
- Hyperthermia (Thermotherapy):
- Involves heating cancer tissue to make cells more susceptible to radiation.
- Still under research and not widely available.

Follow-Up:
- Regular follow-up appointments every three to six months initially.
- After five years, typically reduced to annual appointments.

Goals and Benefits:
- Helps prevent the return or spread of cancer.
- Kills cancer cells, shrinks tumors, and destroys remaining cells post-surgery.
- Can be used at almost any stage of breast cancer.

Side Effects:
- Gradual skin changes in the treated area.
- Important to report any symptoms or side effects to the doctor.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the resources provided by MyBCTeam.

July 25, 2024

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