| | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 31 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 31 | Today is the third time I get the call to not come in for radiation because of mechanical breakdown.It should have been the start of my 5th week. I'm getting concerned that this will ultimately effect the outcome of my treatment. Is it typical for these types of IMRT machines to have lots of down time and have any of you experienced this? Would hate to start over. Is it possible to switch locations/treatment centers without losing too much effectiveness.
Rick
Age 50 at DX July 13 2009. T1N2BMO, stage III BOT-2 nodes right side, HPV negative, drinker-smoker, cisplatin x 3 IMRT x 39 70 GY, pegged and ported. Started treatment on 8-3 2009. Selective neck disection 11/30/2009, 9 nodes removed-neg pathology
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 | It happened to me once and they made sure I made that one day up.
I read about people that missed more then one day for various reasons...Any concerns ask your RO...I think you'll be fine.
Stay strong...
7-16-08 age 37@Dx, T3N0M0 SCC 4.778cm tumor, left side of oral tongue, non smoker, casual drinker, I am the 4th in my family to have H&N cancer
8-13-08 left neck dissection and 40% of tongue removed, submandibular salivary gland & 14 nodes clean, no chemo, IMRTx35
11-4-08 Recovering & feeling better
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 | We were lucky with machine breakdowns. It only happened once and there were 3 other working machines so Steve was just switched to another machine. He did miss one treatment due to being hospitalised with an infection but they made sure they made it up on the last day with 2 doses, 6 hours apart.
Wife to Steve 43. DX 5 May 09. T4N2MO SCC tongue, floor of mouth, lymph nodes & jaw bone
No surgery
Teeth removed 06/07/2009
radiation 13/07/2009 x 7wks
chemo 15/07/2009 x 3 Cisplatin
last TX 28/08/2009
25/11/2009 PET-lymph node activity.
08/01/2010 CT Scan-ALL CLEAR
03/03/2010-Peg removed
01/2013 left side of Jaw removed and replaced with pectoral flap.
23/12/2020 scan show lesion in tongue
01/2021 SCC stage 3 base of tongue diagnosed
01/03/2021 chemotherapy started.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I only missed one due to breakdown. I think I was told due to technical difficulties. Oh yes as id I believed that one.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 211 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 211 | my husband missed two days due to machine breakdowns (including his very first day). Plus, his treatment was late a couple of other days due to the same. Missing a day here and there (from what we were told) should not affect your treatment. I think it's pretty common but I can understand (and remember) being frustrated and concerned and just wanting to get through the treatment! I remember from an earlier post of yours - I think_ that you were having a bit of a rough time with the radiation so I'm glad to hear that you are over the halfway part. The next weeks will be more difficult but it's so wonderful to be able to count the days until you're finished.
Sophie
Sophie T.
CG to husband: SCC Stage 4, T4, N1, M0; non-smoker and very light social drinker; HPV+
induction chemo begun 7/07; chemo/radiation ended 10/10, first cat scan clear; scan on 5/9/08 clear, scan on 10/08 clear; scan 1/09 clear; scan 1/10 clear; passed away July 2, 2016
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 | Rick
I didn't have any treatments postponed, but I was advised when I started if there was any reason for that to happen I would have to keep going until the 30 were completed.
We have breaks over the weekend during treatments so there mustn't be a major problem with that happening. It must be frustrating though, because I know how much I just wanted to get to the end of it.
Stay strong - it won't be long until you will be down to single figures and before you know it, it will be the end of the treatments and onto the recovery!!
Karen
46 yrs:
Apr 07-SCC 80% entire tongue removed,T4N1M0
Neck/D,Jaw Split, Trache 2 ops,PEG 3.5yrs
30 x rad,6 x Cisplatin,
30 x HBO
Apr'08- flap Recon + ORN Mandibulectomy
(hip bone to reconstruct jaw)
Oct'08 1 Plate out-jaw
Mar'09 Debulk flap
Sep'09/Jan&Nov'10/Feb&Jun'11/Jan&Jul'12/Oct'13/April'14-More surgery
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | My IMRT machine at a CCC broke down at least once a week, needing recalibration that cancelled our radiation treatments. My five weeks stretched into seven as a result but my RO was quite adamant that the delays would have no adverse effect on the treatment. It was a hassle but you certainly will not have to start all over or anything like that. Lots of administrative issues with switching locations etc and at this point IMO not worth bothering with. We did not always get a call in time before we left or the machine would reak while we were waiting. Good question though, but yes very typical. Again, my entire medical team at the CCC reassured me that these downtimes raised no real issue of effectiveness and that I should enjoy my unexpected "days off".
charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 132 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 132 | I missed three days in a row in the middle of my treatments because my side effects were so bad, the RO said I needed a break. He assured me even this many days off would have no adverse effect on the overall treatment; I just made them up at the end. I think you'll be fine missing one now and again, as long as you make them up.
Chrissy
Stage 2 SCC upper right palate
Hemi-palatectomy and maxillectomy 5/28/09
Six teeth gone
IMRT x30 starts July 13. Completed 8/26/09
Carboplatin and Taxol x6 starting 7/14/09. Completed 8/25/09.
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 113 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 113 | I missed 2 days and was delayed twice as well. This is a normal thing especially if you are not going to a facility with multiple machines. Of course missing those days you will make them up! I was supposed to end on a friday I ended on a tuesday instead which didnt make me too happy!
30 yr old M non-smoker (stuborn ass italian)
SCC left side Tongue 2/17/09, Partial Gloss. 2/25/09
Left ND 5/20/09 10 nodes, 1 pos (1.7cm w/xtra cap spread)
Finished Rads IMRT X 33 8/18/09 (70gy)No PEG, No Chemo
"On the long road to recovery 1 step at a time"
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | glad to see that the consensus is that breaks in treatment due to machine breakdowns ARE NOT ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I was a little groggy pre dawn, and should have written that my 8 weeks stretched into 10 weeks of radiation due to the one and only IMRT machine needing to be recalibrated so often. Now my CCC has two IMRT machines going, so it's less of an issue. As everyone pointed out, you do have to make up the lost sessions, which is probably why there is no adverse effect
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
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