ANA Discussion Forum
Treatment Options => Radiation / Radiosurgery => Topic started by: Craig on March 15, 2007, 10:45:26 am
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I am still gathering facts on what treatment as far as radiosurgery. I live in Nashville, TN. and Vanderbilt Medical Center has a system called Trilogy. It seems to be very similiar to Cyberknife. Can anyone comment on this or do you have any knowledge of this system?
I appreciate your knowledge.
Thanks,
Craig
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Craig,
I have to admit I have not heard of it... but.... I bet if you pose this to the dr's on the CK Patient Support Board (http://www.cyberknifesupport.org/forum/), maybe one of the dr's will know about it and be able to elaborate on it. They are quite versed on all forms of radio-surgery. Just a thought....
Phyl
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Just posted a response on the Cyberknife support group. The trilogy system from what I can tell is just like the Cyberknife and how the procedure and is also a Linear treatment. Here is a link that discusses it. I am very excited that I found this in my own backyard.
http://varian.mediaroom.com/file.php/mr_varian/spinsite_docfiles/205/CL_MAY-JUN06_St_Francis_Trilogy.pdf
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Sigmund,
I saw the replys that the drs on the CK Patient Support board wrote about the Trilogy system. Interesting insight. So, based on what they are saying (barring the fact that they were obviously more pro-CK in their responses), it seems that the "accuracy" of the Trilogy is the question in mind? They do publically note a 1mm accuracy on their website (http://www.varian.com/orad/prd171.html) and am curious where Trilogy is offered and the success rate as well as its use on ANs. Was Vanderbilt able to provide you with any stats?
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Phyl
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I meet with them on 3/20/07. I will post what the stats are from Dr. Cmelak at Vanderbilt. Keep your fingers crossed as I would like to stay home and do the treatment.
Cheers,
Craig
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fingers and eyes are crossed..... and waiting patiently for updates. Good luck at your appt!
Phyl
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Hey Sig: that's great news if you can get quality treatment in your own back yard. Keep us updated on your progress. Hope this finds you in good spirits and health despite the "AN" in your head! Annie
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I found an article that posted the accuracy of the Trilogy treatment. Here is an excerpt from it below. You can read the article by going to the link as well. I thought I would share this with everyone. I will know more tomorrow when I meet with the doctors.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/10/041012090933.htm
"Stereotactic radiosurgery has been a non-surgical alternative for certain types of brain tumors for many years," says Nelson Oyesiku, MD, PhD, FACS, professor of neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine. "It may be used as a primary treatment for inoperable brain tumors or in combination with other treatments with recurrent or malignant tumors. This new Trilogy system allows for the most precise targeting of tumors or brain abnormalities, targeting the area within 0.4 of a millimeter, compared with the next best machine which targets within 0.75 of a millimeter." One might describe 0.4 of a millimeter as similar to the width of a pencil line drawn on a piece of paper.
Cheers,
Craig
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Craig:
.4mm yet their website says 1mm? WOW! Looking forward to more updates on this...... please keep us posted on your appt with them... I'm sure the dr's at the CK Patient Support Board would be interested in this as well.....and am also curious if Dr. Nelson Oyesiku has a "vested" interest in the Trilogy as well......
thanks again,
Phyl
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Fascinating Craig, thank you for posting this. It reminded me of a speech given at an information day in Halifax last year. In that, towards the end, was some info on the latest which is image guided radiation in real time. In other words, each day's treatment can be guided by images at the time. I think this type of accuracy is absolutely marvellous. This is the way radiation treatment is going.
http://www.braintumour.ca/braintumour.nsf/eng/InformationDay_getInfo
Click on the Halifax speech to the right side of the page in 2006 for a view/listen to where radiation treatment is going.
Hope it loads for you so you can view/listen.
Windsong
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Hard to believe that we have Trilogy on the west coast of Florida near Fort Myers (Bonita Springs) through 21st Century Oncology whose doctors are affiliated with Mass General in Boston. I was told it is becoming more and more popular and well known.
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I went to meet Dr. Cmelak today. He studied under Alder at Stanford. We decided to go through with the Trilogy treatment. It will be in 5 doses. I am scheduled to go next week to get fitted with my mask and get a CT. I will than have to have another MRI done and then we will do the treatment.
I asked him about the accuracy of the Trilogy vs. CK. He said that the CK and GK just have really marketed themselves really well. The accuracy of Trilogy, GK and CK are all about the same so that was good to hear. I have also been thinking that if you are in sales, you will sell your product and have faith in it. These doctors are doing the same thing. They have a treatment available to them so that is the best treatment as far as they are concerned.
Cheers,
Craig
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Craig, great news! :)
Did they share any of the following with you?
1. History of AN treatments (as to how many)?
2. Success rate of AN treatments?
These, to me, would be key..... did they share any of that with you? Just trying to learn more about it.....
Onward and upward, Craig!
Phyl
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They have done about 36 AN's with tumor control in the 97-98% range.
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Hi Craig...
I am interested in following your progress. You are the first Trilogy patient that I have come across. Please keep us posted, and best of luck. The treatment prognosis numbers look good.
Bruce
what Bruce said :)
Phyl
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Oh Craig! I'm really excited for you! :P Okay, I know that sounds completely stupid but given that you are a new member of the club- this is really good news for ALL of us that you found yet another option. Nice to have a "similar" treatment and that really they are all about the same.. you say trilogy, I say CK, you say ToMAYto, I say To MAHto... okay, enough bad produce humor...... also good to know that your guy trained under Adler. (But then I am horribly biased about Stanford at this point ::)
Keep us updated with your progress and good luck! Annie
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http://www.varian.com/vss/casemodels/acousticschwannoma.html
Here is how they get below 1mm accuracy. The image on the screen is the tumor.
I am scheduled for my treatments on April 16th. I will go in for five treatments. I get fitted for my mask on
Thursday. I will update how the treatments went once they are over.
Craig
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Interesting that Stanford also has a Trilogy System under Radiation Therapy. Curious about the difference of treating AN using CK and Trilogy... Wonder how it is decided - CK vs. Trilogy?
http://cancer.stanfordhospital.com/forPatients/services/radiationTherapy/trilogy/default
Mary
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I was fitted with my fitted with my mask today. It stuck to my hair when they pulled it off. They soften the plastic in 161 degree water and then put it on the back of your head. They then do the same process for your face and then connect them.
I had a CT scan today and earlier this week, I had an MRI with mm slices. It was by far the loudest MRI that I have been through so far. I had a headache the rest of the night. It was almost ear piercing. I will update later on the Trilogy treatments on April 16th.
Cheers,
Craig
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I'll be doing FSR with the Trilogy System at Emory starting in late May. I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes. If anyone else has experience with Trilogy, please let us know.
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sounds like my next trip to Atlanta, I get to meet quite a few AN'ers! :) Will advise any upcoming travel plans....
Good luck Craig and BeJoi... will be looking for the Trilogy updates as this is new info to many (including myself) and will follow along with your progress :)
Phyl
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Hi Craig,
I'll be thinking about you tomorrow as you go for your treatment. I'm very anxious to hear how it goes. As it turns out, I will not be going to Emory (Kaiser won't cover it) but will probably do it at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta who has the Trilogy and GK. I'm going to be meeting with my neurosurgeon on May 15. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Beverly
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I just had my first of Five treatments today. The machine moves around you and the table moves as well. I was in and out of there in less than 45 minutes. After getting over the anxiety of the machine and the mask, it was pretty easy. I am feeling fine and I am going to go work out.
Cheers,
Craig
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So glad to hear that Craig. Are your five treatments daily in a row? Or are they spreading them out more? Have a great workout. When you get a chance, I'd like to know more about your experience with the mask.
Beverly
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I am doing one treatment everyday for five days. The mask is made out of a plastic and they put it in hot water to form it to your face. They clamp it down and it becomes real tight. I mean real tight. The procedure is only 25 minutes long. They move you around at first so they mask does not pinch you. Once you are comfortable, it is go time. You can feel the laser hitting you which are hot. They use the lasers to guide the radiation.
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I thought that I would post this link about the Trilogy system for those that are new are looking for treatment. It is a video from Rhode Island Hospital that explains the treatment.
http://www.lifespan.org/services/oncology/radonc/trilogy/
Cheers,
Craig
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Hey Craig: thanks for the update. Glad to know you are alive and well! Take care, Annie
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Bruce,
It went really well. I did four treatments instead of five. Each treatments only lasted 20 minutes. I received 6gy everyday. I was really tired the first week. I had a bad headache one day. The ringing in my ear has decreased and I feel fine. I have been working in the yard and working out just like I did before. I seem to get a little more tired when I do these things but I am sure that will improve. I am scheduled to go back in three months for an MRI.
I can tell you that Vanderbilt was nice. As soos as I arrived at the office, they were waiting on me to go in. I was in and out of the office within an 45 minutes. I will post any changes in my condition and will also give you an update in three months.
Cheers,
Craig
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Craig, I have been reading these entries about your case and it is most interesting since this type of treatment is so new on this site. I am glad to know that you are doing so well, this is fabulous news. The "tiredness" is very common to all of us and if you read any of the books on brain tumors you will see that this is onw of the number one complaints. This is your brain telling you you need to rest, it needs to rest and it is good to give yourself permission to lay down and take a nap or go to bed early. This can be difficult for thise of us who are very active. That being said, the best of luck in your recovery and I too will watch and see how you do thi is very important information that you are sharing with all of us. Thank you, Holly
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Bruce,
Let me know how your visit goes at Emory. I am interested in your docs response to using Trilogy on your AN.
Cheers,
Craig
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It's been a long day (saw a neurosurgeon AND radiologist back to back), so I'll keep this short. Geisinger in Danville PA offers Trilogy as well as GK. The radiologist even felt there was a better chance of retaining my hearing level with Trilogy, but he did say it was too early to know for sure. I still haven't made my decision, but I'm leaning more towards "wait and watch" than I was before today. Right now I'm actually feeling grateful that it's "only" an acoustic neuroma and not something worse. There's nothing like a visit to the hospital to help put things into perspective.
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As Phyl suggested early in this thread the docs on the CPSG board who have experience with all the machines currently out there do have some opinions which might be of value to those looking to choose amongst various options
http://www.cyberknifesupport.org/forum/default.aspx?f=16&m=11064
http://www.cyberknifesupport.org/forum/default.aspx?f=16&m=11510
All of these are viable options, but there are differences in capabilities that can be important to consider
Mark
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Thanks for the links, Mark. I'd like to add another (forgive me if it's been posted elsewhere).
http://www.sdcyberknife.com/comparison.htm
I'm still in the early stages of my research, but the one big thing I've learned from this forum is that much of the info on the internet is biased. The marketing people folks have probably revised the heck out of this comparison, but I still found it interesting.
Does all this image-guided radiosurgery stuff remind anyone else of Star Trek?