Trilogy Stereotactic Radiation

JDuke
JDuke Member Posts: 438
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Thought I would give an update on the plans to treat my anal cancer liver met. It has been a long four months. Turns out I was not a candidate for the resection, so my case was once again put before the tumor board at Moffitt. Dr. Sarah Hoffe, radiation oncologist, was eager to take on my somewhat rare case. From our first meeting I have been completely in awe of her. She is a force in her field of medicine. As a matter of fact, I found out last week that she was recently recognized as the physician of the year at Moffitt. Her recommendation for treatment is Triolgy Stereotactic radiation. This is a relatively new treatment for liver mets. It has been used for brain tumors and lung with great results. There are a couple of other things that they have determined are very useful in conjunction with this treatment for precise marking and imaging benefits. I had a endoscopic sonogram, the plan was to place clips (little gold coils) in my liver to help mark the borders of the tumor. This was unsuccesful. The area was just too clouded to allow definitive placement. Onto the next step...catherization to inject lipiodol into my liver. Turns out this is poppy seed oil, sometimes used in conjunction with chemo-embolization. They have found that the tumor will uptake the lipiodol and allow them to VERY clearly see it on the imaging that is used in conjunctiion with the radiation. The lipiodol stays in the tumor for 2-6 weeks after the injection so throughout the radiation it is very helpful for the proper marking of the targeted area. So...radiation starts Monday March 8th. I will have five treatments. If all goes according to the plans, I will be finished Friday March 12th. Don't know what to expect as far as side effects. Dr. Hoffe said most patient's main complaint is fatigue. If that is the worst of it, my stockpile of unread magazines will come in handy!
Best regards to all,
Joanne

Comments

  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    interesting!
    Joanne,

    This is very interesting. Sounds similar to the cyberknife or the Novalis radiosurgery, both of which also insert gold "fidducials" into the tumor. I'm so glad you are able to get this! Best wishes throughout the treatment- let us know how it goes and how you feel from it.

    Take care and hugs,
    Lisa
  • kimby
    kimby Member Posts: 797
    Stereotactic Radiation
    Joanne,

    I had stereotactic radiation to my liver a year ago. I had a very scary tumor on the hepatic artery. That and celiac lymph node involvement meant I wasn't a candidate for any other procedure. We radiated 6 tumors in my right lobe, including the one that would kill me soon. My first CT showed that they were all necrotic and my last one on 1/27/10 they couldn't be seen at all. I'm now preparing for stereotactic rad to my lungs and then we will work on the left lobe of the liver. Maybe more rad and maybe resection.

    I had daily rad to my liver for 5 weeks. I'm glad you don't have to maintain that schedule. I wish for you the great success I've had. Please keep us up to date with your progress.

    Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.

    Kimby