Talk Cancer

Question:

treatment went well.  They think they got it all, but won’t know for sure for at least 6 weeks, probably more.   Thanks so much for that info.  Did you have any difficulty during the treatment?  Any side effects?

Response:

Michell wrote << Kaye, the CyberKnife treatment is in Boulder, Colo.  The treatment went well.  They think they got it all, but won’t know for sure for at least 6 weeks, probably more.   Michelle, thanks for responding.  Do you know if the tumor on your spine was malignant?  Did they do a biopsy or PET scan first?  Where on the spine was it located?  Hope you don’t mind the ?’s.  I have either a cyst or mass on my spine and am exploring different treatments.  Thanks in advance.

Response:

Kaye, No, I don’t know for sure if it was malignant.  It was in a place that would have been very difficult to biopsy and/or remove surgically.  They found it first on a PET scan, then on an MRI.  Also, it corresponded to when my tumor marker went up, which has been a very reliable indicator that something’s going on.  It’s located on the left side of the thorasic spine from the top of T7 to the top of T8.  I’ll have another blood test to check the tumor marker Monday.  Cross your fingers…but was told it will take at least 6 weeks to go away. Does yours hurt?  What treatments are you looking at? — Michelle Remove stopit for reply.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Michell wrote << Kaye, the CyberKnife treatment is in Boulder, Colo.  The treatment went well.  They think they got it all, but won’t know for sure for at least 6 weeks, probably more. Michelle, thanks for responding.  Do you know if the tumor on your spine was malignant?  Did they do a biopsy or PET scan first?  Where on the spine was it located?  Hope you don’t mind the ?’s.  I have either a cyst or mass on my spine and am exploring different treatments.  Thanks in advance.

Response:

Michelle wrote << I’ll have another blood test to check the tumor marker Monday.  Cross your fingers…but was told it will take at least 6 weeks to go away. Does yours hurt?  What treatments are you looking at? Hi Michelle, thanks for your response.   Hope all goes well re. blood test.  As far as hurting–mine hurts on and off.  The pain is very much like sciatic pain–at lea that’s what I’ve been told by one dr. and several who have sciatica. I have not yet had any treatments.  I had a second MRI on Thursday,  about 10.5 weeks after previous lumbar MRI to see if there has been any change.  It doesn’t hurt constantly–but when it does, it is fairly painful.  It seems to be most problematic at night when sleeping or if I am lying down. The radiologist said it could be either a synovial cyst or a mass.  The neurosurgeon said it looked like a synovial cyst and referred me to the spine surgeon.  He could not guarantee it wasn’t malignant.  The spine surgeon said it looked like a cyst but also couldn’t guarantee it wasn’t malignant.  He referred me to the 2nd spine surgeon at our HMO who said the same. They recommend microsurgical removal.  I asked about the cyberknife.  They told me they were surgeons and didn’t know anything about it.  (Our HMO (non-profit) does not offer that treatment. However, if it were recommended, I could petition to get it). I am not sure what to do, because even if it were just a cyst and not malignant, I would be  concerned that if there were any malignant cells in the area that the procedure might result in tumor seeding/spread. I am at very high risk for recurrence, particularly in the brain/spinal area.   My bone scans and PET scan have shown highligted areas in the L4/L5 region–which I think may be a common area for mets. However, I was told that it was also common for arthritic activity.  I do hope that it is nothing more than a simple ‘cyst.’ I wish there was an ‘expert’ out there who could better determine what might be going on.  I am willing to pay out-of-pocket and go almost anywhere in the world. However, I have no clue who would be an ‘expert’ on this and where the ‘best’ of places would be.   Anyone have any ideas?  

Response:

Hi Kathy, Good to hear from you.  How did your treatments go?  I’m having a CyberKnife treatment tomorrow for a tumor on my spine. — Michelle Remove stopit for reply.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I had the GammaKnife last week for two brain tumors.

Response:

<< I’m having a CyberKnife treatment tomorrow for a tumor on my spine. Hi Michelle, where are you being treated?  Wishing you all the best!

Response:

Kaye, the CyberKnife treatment is in Boulder, Colo.  The treatment went well.  They think they got it all, but won’t know for sure for at least 6 weeks, probably more. — Michelle Remove stopit for reply.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – << I’m having a CyberKnife treatment tomorrow for a tumor on my spine. Hi Michelle, where are you being treated?  Wishing you all the best!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There are a few cyberknives working in California.  One (a somewhat older model) is at the University of California San Francisco.  It’s my understand that a more recent model is at UCLA medical center.  The cyberknife is mainly useful for brain tumors (and small tumors at that).  It provides "focused" radiation that doesn’t hurt surrounding tissue. For bone metastases doctors usually prefer broader radiation because the cyberknife is very expensive.  But after all you only have one brain and if it breaks you can’t put it in a splint. UCSF cyberknife site: www.som.ucsf.edu/neuros/patient_care/gamma_knife.html UCLA: http://www.neurosurgery.medsch.ucla.edu/Programs/Radiosurgery/Radiosu… Tony

Hi, A couple of clarifications. The CyberKnife is FDA cleared for treatments anywhere in the body.  The primary usage so far is in head and spine treatments but there are also body treatments being done. The CyberKnife can treat tumors of various sizes and, importantly, shapes.  The radiation beam is relatively (compared to conventional linacs) small which means that treatments of large tumors can take longer if the tumor has a nice even shape.  This is primarily a patient throughput issue for the hospital. UCLA doesn’t have a CyberKnife, USC does.  UCLA has a system that tries to compete with the CyberKnife by adding imaging to an IMRT system but their ability to image and correct for patient movements during a treatment is much more limited (impossible?).  All you have to do is sneeze and you can be out of alignment. The system at UCSF and USC are of the same configuration, the USC system is only chronologically a few months older than the UCSF system. Updated links: UCSF http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/special/c/20676.html USC http://ccnt.hsc.usc.edu/services/cyberknife/advantage.htm Here are a couple more links with more info on the CyberKnife: http://www.cksociety.org/ http://www.cyberknifesupport.org/ Eric

Response:

I had the GammaKnife last week for two brain tumors.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There are a few cyberknives working in California.  One (a somewhat older model) is at the University of California San Francisco.  It’s my understand that a more recent model is at UCLA medical center.  The cyberknife is mainly useful for brain tumors (and small tumors at that).  It provides Hi, A couple of clarifications. The CyberKnife is FDA cleared for treatments anywhere in the body.  The primary usage so far is in head and spine treatments but there are also body treatments being done. The CyberKnife can treat tumors of various sizes and, importantly, shapes.  The radiation beam is relatively (compared to conventional linacs) small which means that treatments of large tumors can take longer if the tumor has a nice even shape.  This is primarily a patient throughput issue for the hospital. UCLA doesn’t have a CyberKnife, USC does.  UCLA has a system that tries to compete with the CyberKnife by adding imaging to an IMRT system but their ability to image and correct for patient movements during a treatment is much more limited (impossible?).  All you have to do is sneeze and you can be out of alignment. The system at UCSF and USC are of the same configuration, the USC system is only chronologically a few months older than the UCSF system. Updated links: UCSF http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/special/c/20676.html USC http://ccnt.hsc.usc.edu/services/cyberknife/advantage.htm Here are a couple more links with more info on the CyberKnife: http://www.cksociety.org/ http://www.cyberknifesupport.org/ Eric

Thanks, Eric.  I was kind of hoping someone who actually knew something would chime in here! – Tony — Tony Lima                        /"   ASCII ribbon campaign                                   /   against HTML mail                                   X    and postings                                  /

Response:

Yes, I have seen this therapy and it can be very effective. Good Luck. hope you are a candidate. Has anyone heard of this?  It is a fairly new type of radiation for tumors of the head, neck and spine.  The information I have says it is extremely effective due to "the high doses of focused radiation targeted at a tumor from a wide variety of angles."  It goes on to say, "…The cumulaative  dose is high enough to destroy the cancer cells, while radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue is minimized."

There are a few cyberknives working in California.  One (a somewhat older model) is at the University of California San Francisco.  It’s my understand that a more recent model is at UCLA medical center.  The cyberknife is mainly useful for brain tumors (and small tumors at that).  It provides "focused" radiation that doesn’t hurt surrounding tissue. For bone metastases doctors usually prefer broader radiation because the cyberknife is very expensive.  But after all you only have one brain and if it breaks you can’t put it in a splint. UCSF cyberknife site: www.som.ucsf.edu/neuros/patient_care/gamma_knife.html UCLA: http://www.neurosurgery.medsch.ucla.edu/Programs/Radiosurgery/Radiosu… Tony — Tony Lima                        /"   ASCII ribbon campaign                                   /   against HTML mail                                   X    and postings                                  /

Response:

<< I am the Lead Therapist in charge of the CyberKnife Program in Pittsburgh. CyberKnife is a remarkeable piece of equipment that can treat a variety of spinal lesions. If you are interested, you can contact me and I will give you any information yuo may need. Bill Hi Bill, just saw your response to Michelle re cyberknife programs.  I was just about to investigate its use with spinal cysts.  I was dx’d with either a synovial cyst or mass at the L4/L5 region of the lumbar spine.  Is the cyberknife used for this type of cyst?  Any info you could provide would be very much appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

Response:

I am the Lead Therapist in charge of the CyberKnife Program in Pittsburgh. CyberKnife is a remarkeable piece of equipment that can treat a variety of spinal lesions. If you are interested, you can contact me and I will give you any information yuo may need. Bill

how about microscopic lesions bill – can’t be seen in an xray only a bone scan – is it possible to target these?

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yes, I have seen this therapy and it can be very effective. Good Luck. hope you are a candidate. Has anyone heard of this?  It is a fairly new type of radiation for tumors of the head, neck and spine.  The information I have says it is extremely effective due to "the high doses of focused radiation targeted at a tumor from a wide variety of angles."  It goes on to say, "…The cumulaative  dose is high enough to destroy the cancer cells, while radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue is minimized." It’s done on an outpatient basis, takes about an hour, and may only have  to be done once. Apparently there are only a few of these types of machines in the U.S.,  one of which is near me in Boulder, Colorado.  I have a spot on my spine that  I am talking to them about.  Once they see my films, they will let me know  if I am a candidate. Anyone know of anything good or bad about this?  You can find info on www.accuray.com. Thanks for any help you can offer. Michelle Michelle,

I am the Lead Therapist in charge of the CyberKnife Program in Pittsburgh. CyberKnife is a remarkeable piece of equipment that can treat a variety of spinal lesions. If you are interested, you can contact me and I will give you any information yuo may need. Bill

Response:

According to MRI of lumbar spine on 4/20 (yes, on Easter Sunday), report stated that I had either a synovial cyst or a mass around the L4/L5 area which, since second bone scan (didn’t show up on first) was reported to be an active area which they said might be arthritic activity.  However, the cyst (or mass) wasn’t there at time of first and second bone scan (had ‘normal MRI 6 mos after dx–after treatment was completed with AC and then rads and was receiving taxanes and Herceptin at the time). Anyway, I sure hope it’s nothing more than some type of cyst and in no way malignant.  At the same time, since I have been told that I am at very high risk for recurrence, at this point nothing would surprise me.   I could use lots of positive thoughts and prayers on this one…Thanks in advance!

Response:

Uh oh…what’s happening?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Michelle, thanks so much for your post.  It came at a very timely time…

Response:

Michelle, thanks so much for your post.  It came at a very timely time…

Response:

Yes, I have seen this therapy and it can be very effective. Good Luck. hope you are a candidate.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Has anyone heard of this?  It is a fairly new type of radiation for tumors of the head, neck and spine.  The information I have says it is extremely effective due to "the high doses of focused radiation targeted at a tumor from a wide variety of angles."  It goes on to say, "…The cumulaative dose is high enough to destroy the cancer cells, while radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue is minimized." It’s done on an outpatient basis, takes about an hour, and may only have to be done once. Apparently there are only a few of these types of machines in the U.S., one of which is near me in Boulder, Colorado.  I have a spot on my spine that I am talking to them about.  Once they see my films, they will let me know if I am a candidate. Anyone know of anything good or bad about this?  You can find info on www.accuray.com. Thanks for any help you can offer. Michelle

Response:

Has anyone heard of this?  It is a fairly new type of radiation for tumors of the head, neck and spine.  The information I have says it is extremely effective due to "the high doses of focused radiation targeted at a tumor from a wide variety of angles."  It goes on to say, "…The cumulaative dose is high enough to destroy the cancer cells, while radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue is minimized." It’s done on an outpatient basis, takes about an hour, and may only have to be done once. Apparently there are only a few of these types of machines in the U.S., one of which is near me in Boulder, Colorado.  I have a spot on my spine that I am talking to them about.  Once they see my films, they will let me know if I am a candidate. Anyone know of anything good or bad about this?  You can find info on www.accuray.com. Thanks for any help you can offer. Michelle

Response: