Cyberknife possiblity for recurrence

• By Freedie22
• Posted November 18, 2008 at 7:00 pm
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Do you know what the "cyberknife" actually is? Laser? Gamma knife? I've never heard the term and was just curious.

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• By momanderson920
• Posted November 19, 2008 at 4:07 am
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Susan5, I have read about the cyberknife which for many cancers has great success. I pray that you get a good report and if you have to go through cyberknife, that it is successful in cutting out the cancer with no problems.

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• By Susan5
• Posted November 19, 2008 at 8:53 am
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Sorry guys -thought everyone knew what cyberknife was -there are 5 in the country and we have one here in Gainesville Florida ---
It's a radiation that is focused just on the tumor...
No side affects -no hastle very easy...
you just lie on a comfy couch 3 days in a row for an hour each day -they radiate just the single -isolated tumor and off you go!!
One of our women did it 24mos ago after treating this one tumor 4 times over 7yrs -and it's not recurred...
I really want this instead of chemo -and was so encouraged -but I am beginning to notice a weight gain of 4 lbs the past week and a bulging belly.
I am very lean so I will notice a few pounds and a little extra around my belly.....
will see my doc this morning...
Love to all of you

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• By Kathleen4
• Posted November 19, 2008 at 12:12 pm
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Just had what was called radio-surgery on 4 small spots, preceeded by a robotic removal of a tumor in my bladder. All has gone well, although I'm tired. Someone sat me down and said ... you do realize you've just been through 5 surgeries in 2 weeks. Be kind to yourself! And, I'll pass that on to you!

Sending positive thoughts,
Kathleen

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• By patsybee
• Posted November 20, 2008 at 12:16 pm
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Does anyone know if the cyberknife can be used on diseased lymph nodes on the aorta?

Patsy

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• By Momsmyhero
• Posted November 20, 2008 at 7:59 pm
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I checked out cyberknife for my mom and I was told its specifically for isolated "small" spots of cancer. The main benefit of cyberknife vs standard radiation is that less of the surrounding tissue is impacted by radiation burns etc. Additionally, it can be done in a much more comfortable fashion.

You should ask your doctor, as I bug my mom's oncologist about everything. Figure we might as well try it all.
Annie

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• By Cindy809
• Posted November 21, 2008 at 9:19 am
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I inquired about the cyberknife and other types of radiation for my liver and two small spots in my pelvis. First I had a consultation with a team of radiologist for the SIRT procedure and I am going to appeal the procedure (SIRT Yttrium 90 Microspheres Therapy of Liver tumors). It is only FDA approved for colorectal liver mets and liver cancer. I have so many tumors in my liver. The other radiation treatments are RAF, "Direct Hit" php system, cryosurgery, gamma knife and the cyberknife. Some of the treatments I mentioned are for the liver. I was so excited to find out that the cyberknife is in our area. I had a consultation with the radiologist and he directed me to UVA to see if I was qualified for SIRT. I WAS!!! But unfortunately my great insurance company Anthem will deny and now I'll have to to through the appeal process. So I went to the radiologist for the cyberknife again and he told me that the tumors are too big on my liver but he said he could get the small spot on my t9spine and pelvis but my insurance company will only cover conventional radiation before the cyberknife. Why didn't he tell me that before I got so excited about these procedures? Conventional radiation isn't good for small spots and the cyberkife is perfect for OVCA !!! We are so orphaned !!! All this fancy equipment and we can't take advantage of it. SIRT has a great chance of clearing up my liver tumors!!!! So I'm on doxil now hoping that my tumors shrink enough for RAF. I can still get the SIRT done down the line if my disease stays in one place. Almost impossible!!! There are other options for us out there but colorectal and other cancers have the approvals. We usually follow colorectal approvals but I don't know if I have the time!!! I can't have any more surgeries so radiation is the key for me! Conventional radiation is not due to bowels!!! Good luck with the cyberknife! It is a great way to stay off chemo....Cindy

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• By Gia
• Posted November 22, 2008 at 2:39 pm
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Susan5--just wondering what your report was---I am curious about the use of the cyperknife in ovca patients--hard to find info in the literature for us. I think I may have missed a great opportunity for it's use when some isolated spots earlier this year which unfortunately has now turn into many other spots that chemo has not gotten rid of yet----it is so frustrating when doctors do not support other therapies other than chemo. Good luck to you, Gia

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• By Susan5
• Posted November 22, 2008 at 6:29 pm
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Hi Gia:
Haven't met with docs yet; my ca125 was 127 last week so they're deciding what to do now. I think they both want a pet scan first before making a decision.
Chemo doc wants the cyberknife if I qualify; obgym oncologist isn't a fan -she thinks there can be too many radiation side-affects....
I'll let you guys know as I know.........
So so sorry to hear that you are dealing with lots of spots that chemo isn't getting; that must be very frustrating! What chemo have you been using?
I think the docs have their reasons -I like to hear them out and then make my own informed decisions.
susan

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• By Gia
• Posted November 22, 2008 at 8:11 pm
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Susan, Thanks for responding---do you have a Gyn surgicial oncologist or a general Oncologist--I think they approach things differently. I am 52yo and dx Stage IIIC 5 yrs ago this coming january. I missed the IP tx but did well for awhile but have relapsed twice since the originial tx. I have been on chemo since Jan of this year with 2 months off this summer but it more spots came up while off---the small tumors had gotten smaller but still there (first there were just 4 isolated spots and that is what I was wondering if the cyperknife would have worked---now I have multiple). I have had Tax/carbo 1st the 1st relapse gemzar then next relaspe after 8 months free just taxol again ---that is when I had a decrease in size but still there so now on doxcil, four doses--have ct scan soon---. This drug has been hard for me, i have lost weight, and have side effects for 2 wks. I have topotecan and avastin left to try but I am considering a clinicial trial because some of them limit you if you have had more than 3-4 therapies of chemo. Anyway--I wish you the best and wait to hear your plan. gia

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• By Susan5
• Posted November 23, 2008 at 8:10 pm
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Hi Gia:
I have a gyn surgical oncologist & a chemo oncologist - the chemo oncologist is starting the trial with gemzar, carbo platin and avastin -I'll probably be doing that in a week or two... unless I get to do the cyberknife (chances look slim though) the cyberknife would be been sweet; no chemo!
1/2 of us will be getting the avastin and gemzar and carbo -the other half of us just the carbo and gemzar.
I'll keep you guys informed...
I so hope you are feeling good -and am so sorry you've had such a hard road. How do you keep your spirits up? Do you have any coping skills for recurrences? For me, a one -two hr hard workout seems to put me back together.
Have a good night...
luv
susan

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