Radiofrequency Ablation

andreae
andreae Member Posts: 236
edited March 2014 in Lung Cancer #1
Hi everyone,

I'm a 21 year old who was diagnosed with rectal cancer in January. I underwent pre-op chemo/radiation, an abdomino-perineal resection of my rectum with a partial vaginectomy and post-op chemo. In September they discovered small lung metastases. Needless to say, I was devastated but I am quite determined to live. I figured I may as well post my message here since they are pulmonary mets. and perhaps someone here has some info. on radiofrequency ablation dealing with pulmonary lesions. Thanks.

Comments

  • tomsbc
    tomsbc Member Posts: 19
    #2
    Hi andreae,
    I posted this article from Duke University about it 6 or 7 months ago. I never had it but was looking for alternatives at the time. It should still be pretty up to date and it explains the procedure well.

    http://www.radweb.mc.duke.edu/info/rfa.htm

    tomsbc
  • schuyler
    schuyler Member Posts: 32
    #3
    I am a lung cancer patient and one of the treatments I've had is RFA. My tumors were small and localized to the lungs, so I was a candidate. I had the procedure done in Feb. 2003. I suffered a collapsed lung and it was not successful in eliminating my tumor. If you qualify for RFA you probably would also for IMRT (targeted radiation). I had this done in April 2003. IMRT is approved by the US government and covered by insurance, RFA is not. The confusion about this is liver cancer treatment by RFA is approved. IMRT eliminated the tumor left after RFA plus some others I developed. I've had IMRT done twice now (another in August 2003). It can be done multiple times, as it does not cause as much scarring and loss of lung tissue as traditional radiation. Also, RFA is painful and requires some hospitalization whereas IMRT does not. IMRT is being done around the country, but not on the lungs because of movement with breathing. The Cancer Therapy & Research Center does lung IMRT. It's located in San Antonio. I had to travel there, but obviously it was worth it. The staff at the facility are wonderful, which is more than I can say about some other treatment centers I've been. to. The web site for Univ. of Texas Health Science Center (part of CTRC) is www.uthscsa.edu. The phone no. is 210:616-5601. DR. Martin Fuss one of the heads of the Dept. of Radiation and the one who has treated me. Frankly, I don't know why RFA is being researched w;hen IMRT has the same parameters for treatment. IMRT has a 90% success rate in curing tumors. Good luck to you. If you need more info, contact me.
  • cbecker
    cbecker Member Posts: 88
    #4
    schuyler said:

    I am a lung cancer patient and one of the treatments I've had is RFA. My tumors were small and localized to the lungs, so I was a candidate. I had the procedure done in Feb. 2003. I suffered a collapsed lung and it was not successful in eliminating my tumor. If you qualify for RFA you probably would also for IMRT (targeted radiation). I had this done in April 2003. IMRT is approved by the US government and covered by insurance, RFA is not. The confusion about this is liver cancer treatment by RFA is approved. IMRT eliminated the tumor left after RFA plus some others I developed. I've had IMRT done twice now (another in August 2003). It can be done multiple times, as it does not cause as much scarring and loss of lung tissue as traditional radiation. Also, RFA is painful and requires some hospitalization whereas IMRT does not. IMRT is being done around the country, but not on the lungs because of movement with breathing. The Cancer Therapy & Research Center does lung IMRT. It's located in San Antonio. I had to travel there, but obviously it was worth it. The staff at the facility are wonderful, which is more than I can say about some other treatment centers I've been. to. The web site for Univ. of Texas Health Science Center (part of CTRC) is www.uthscsa.edu. The phone no. is 210:616-5601. DR. Martin Fuss one of the heads of the Dept. of Radiation and the one who has treated me. Frankly, I don't know why RFA is being researched w;hen IMRT has the same parameters for treatment. IMRT has a 90% success rate in curing tumors. Good luck to you. If you need more info, contact me.

    schulyer: How many tumors did you have in your lungs and what sucess have you had with IMRT at San Antonio. Thanks, cbecker

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