| Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 86 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 86 | Has anyone had any expierence with Brachytherapy? My little brother is scheduled to begin this type of radiation in about 4 weeks? Thank you in advance for all comments.
22 YO Brother Dx 6/17/14 w. SCC R Lateral tongue CT scan clear LN 6/20/14 HPV-, non-smoker R tongue, right hemiglossectomy Surgery 6/24/14 (Not reoccurrence but went to NCCC instead R neck dissection, tracheostomy, radial free flap, R tongue dissection surg 8/11/14 PT1N2B.3 positive lymph nodes out of 13 Extranodal extension present 9-15-14 IMRT (35x) & Cisplatin (2x) begun 10-21-14 peg in. 10-31-14 1 round of carboplatin 11-4-14 IMRT rx comp 3-27-15 Recurrent tumor in lymph node, L neck diss. 10-29-15 brother passed away, 23 yrs old
| | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | It's not done everywhere, and only in experienced places or rather should be. I had a newer type, similar to brachytherapy, called HD-IORT, High Dose Rate Intraoperstive Radiation Therapy. What type question do you have? There are several types of brachytherapy, Low Dose Rate, LDR, High Dose Rate, and are sometimes used as a boost dose with IMRT. Several members here had Brachtherapy, who may be able to answer your questions better.
Good luck.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Several members have been thru brachytherapy. I have a good friend who doesnt stop by the forum very often but she went thru it. Use the search feature with typing the word brachytherapy. You should get several results to read about it. Or try using the main OCF pages. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 86 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 86 | [quote=PaulB]It's not done everywhere, and only in experienced places or rather should be. I had a newer type, similar to brachytherapy, called HD-IORT, High Dose Rate Intraoperstive Radiation Therapy. What type question do you have? There are several types of brachytherapy, Low Dose Rate, LDR, High Dose Rate, and are sometimes used as a boost dose with IMRT. Several members here had Brachtherapy, who may be able to answer your questions better.
Good luck. [/quote]
Paul he is doing high dose. Will my brother still produce saliva? Is brachytherapy a good option?
22 YO Brother Dx 6/17/14 w. SCC R Lateral tongue CT scan clear LN 6/20/14 HPV-, non-smoker R tongue, right hemiglossectomy Surgery 6/24/14 (Not reoccurrence but went to NCCC instead R neck dissection, tracheostomy, radial free flap, R tongue dissection surg 8/11/14 PT1N2B.3 positive lymph nodes out of 13 Extranodal extension present 9-15-14 IMRT (35x) & Cisplatin (2x) begun 10-21-14 peg in. 10-31-14 1 round of carboplatin 11-4-14 IMRT rx comp 3-27-15 Recurrent tumor in lymph node, L neck diss. 10-29-15 brother passed away, 23 yrs old
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | ak, Im sorry but not many have info on this subject. Unfortunately none of us are doctors or in the medical professiona so its not easy to help guide anyone thru this. Brachytherapy is not as common as IMRT, not many facilities even offer it. I wish I was able to help you with this but Im not qualified to give an opinion on this. Hopefully someone who has been thru Brachy will be along to respond. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 86 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 86 | [quote=ChristineB]ak, Im sorry but not many have info on this subject. Unfortunately none of us are doctors or in the medical professiona so its not easy to help guide anyone thru this. Brachytherapy is not as common as IMRT, not many facilities even offer it. I wish I was able to help you with this but Im not qualified to give an opinion on this. Hopefully someone who has been thru Brachy will be along to respond.[/quote]
Thank you for your response Christine! I really appreciate it. I will have to talk to his doctor.
22 YO Brother Dx 6/17/14 w. SCC R Lateral tongue CT scan clear LN 6/20/14 HPV-, non-smoker R tongue, right hemiglossectomy Surgery 6/24/14 (Not reoccurrence but went to NCCC instead R neck dissection, tracheostomy, radial free flap, R tongue dissection surg 8/11/14 PT1N2B.3 positive lymph nodes out of 13 Extranodal extension present 9-15-14 IMRT (35x) & Cisplatin (2x) begun 10-21-14 peg in. 10-31-14 1 round of carboplatin 11-4-14 IMRT rx comp 3-27-15 Recurrent tumor in lymph node, L neck diss. 10-29-15 brother passed away, 23 yrs old
| | | | Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 | Hi AK,
I had RT in 2006 and before I began treatment I consulted with two radiation oncologist - one was at a major cancer center in Philadelphia PA area and the other was at my local hospital (which is where I ended up having treatment).
We questioned both medical teams about brachytherapy and neither recommended it for me. Since it was so long ago, I don't recall all the specifics about it other than regular RT covers a broader area (in my case tongue, jaw and neck), whereas I believe in brachytherapy the radiated field is more concentrated. There are pros and cons for both options, but this needs to be discussed with his doctors.
I'm not a doctor nor do I have any type of medical degree so I'm only telling you what I can remember from 2006.
Is your brother having a neck dissection? If so, I would think the decision on type of RT should be made after the neck dissection. If any of the lymph nodes come back positive for cancer, I would be surprised and alarmed if the doctor did not recommend "regular" RT which should radiate the neck area also.
As others have said, this is not a very common treatment for oral cancer. The only OC patients I recall having this had already had radiation and then a recurrence.
Your brother is lucky to have you as a sister. Wishing him the best!
Susan
SCC R-Lateral tongue, T1N0M0 Age 47 at Dx, non-smoker, casual drinker, HPV- Surgery: June 2005 RT: Feb-Apr 2006 HBOT: 45 in 2008; 30 in 2013; 30 in 2022 -> Total 105! Recurrence/Surgeries: Jan & Apr 2010 Biopsy 2/2011: Moderate dysplasia Surgery 4/2011: Mild dysplasia Dental issues: 2013-2022 (ORN)
| | | | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 38 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 38 | Hi, I had brachytherapy done about 2010. I had several tongue recurrences of SCC before that but none after. It was weird, but appeared to work!
'08 SCC Rt tongue,part glossect. '09 Rt neck dissect, 3 Cisplatin, 35 rad. Aug '11 Rt tongue,hemiglosstmy, Lt neck dissect, forearm flap, 8 Erbitux,30 rad, brachy tongue. Oct '12 SCC prev stoma site. SCC inside trachea. Nov '12 total larengectomy, addl neck disect, pec flap Oct '15 Myelodysplastic Syndrome (form of leukemia)
Dec 8, 2015 passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones How Cindy wants to be remembered..."I want people to realize I am no longer trapped in this body prison, and I will be free and whole. I want to be remembered by all the good and loving times spent together, not in sadness." | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Woot! Cindy so glad to hear!!!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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