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#183102 07-04-2014 10:03 AM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 86
ak123 Offline OP
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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
ak123 #183106 07-04-2014 11:57 AM
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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






ak123 #183108 07-04-2014 11:59 AM
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Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
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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.


Christine
SCC 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 smile
PaulB #183198 07-08-2014 04:38 PM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 86
ak123 Offline OP
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[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
ak123 #183199 07-08-2014 06:03 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
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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.


Christine
SCC 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 smile
ChristineB #183200 07-08-2014 07:30 PM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 86
ak123 Offline OP
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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
ak123 #183237 07-09-2014 12:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 756
Likes: 1
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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)
ak123 #184295 08-18-2014 02:12 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 38
Contributing Member (25+ posts)
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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."
ak123 #184375 08-22-2014 04:51 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,260
Likes: 3
"OCF Canuck"
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Woot! Cindy so glad to hear!!! smile


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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