Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 1/23/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have had a right side mastectomy followed by chemo and at present on herceptin. My onc has suggested i start radiation, here in Nairobi, kenya, only cobalt radiation is available. My onc says its good enough since its the right side, far from the heart and since there is no breast , cobalt radiation is good enough. please tell me if its safe to go for it, what are the side effects. thanks a lot

ANSWER: Cobalt radiation is good enough for this. The side effects are the same as with radiation from any source. There may be (slight) inflammation in your lung tissues on that side but most probably nothing serious. There may also be some skin irritation in the irradiated area (like a sun burn in a white person) but again nothing really serious. It is safe. Good luck!


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Doctor Claes,

I have decided to do this cobalt radiation. i had a question, this machine seems to be quite old. is it ok?
will it be harmful? my onc wants to suspend herceptin during the rads and then resume later after 6 weeks. is it ok? i have just finished 5 cycles of herceptin . please help me out if i am on the right track

Answer
I suspect, since you live in Kenya (Nairobi?), that that machine has been there since it was brought there by Professor Dr. Folke Edsmyr, M.D., Ph.D. (with whom I have worked, but not in Kenya) from my native Stockholm, Sweden for a research project on Burkitt's lymphoma in the 1970'ies. So it should be quite old. But as long as it is in working order and its load of cobalt60 is still reasonably active that should not be any problem.  I have no objections to how your oncologist wants to proceed! Good luck!