ANA Discussion Forum

Treatment Options => Radiation / Radiosurgery => Topic started by: 1golfnut on December 02, 2007, 02:43:18 pm

Title: Switching in mid stream
Post by: 1golfnut on December 02, 2007, 02:43:18 pm

Suppose you start one therapy and decide that you might try another approach i.e.: CK to GN  or to FSR. What are the ramifications of this and is it possible?

I was told by a doctor that I am eligible for radiation and not sure what approach to use.


Rich
1golfnut

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Diagnosed with AN on 11/2/2007  2.7 x2.4 x 2.4 cm .

Title: Re: Switching in mid stream
Post by: sgerrard on December 02, 2007, 08:10:05 pm

I've never heard of any one doing that. First off, Gammaknife is almost always done as one shot in one day. Cyberknife is usually done in 3 or 5 shots, over 3 to 5 days. Trilogy can be used to do a single shot, or used like Novalis for FSR, doing a smaller dose every day for 30 days or so. After the first day, I doubt any radiation oncologist would allow you to switch to another system or protocol; it would be too uncertain what the medical  consequences might be. Just do your homework ahead of time, then make a decision and stick to it.

Steve

Title: Re: Switching in mid stream
Post by: Jim Scott on December 03, 2007, 05:06:18 pm

Hi, Rich:

I agree with Steve.  I seriously doubt that you could find a reputable radiation oncologist to begin one radiation treatment, then swith to another.  GammaKinfe and CyberKnife are basically one-shot deals, anyway (as Steve noted) and traditional FSR is certainly not a procedure you would start and stop.   I concur with Steve that with radiation, it is obligatory for you, the patient, to choose an approach and see it through, as I'm sure you will. 

Jim

Title: Re: Switching in mid stream
Post by: Mark on December 04, 2007, 06:51:03 pm

Just to round out the consensus here, as usual, I agree with Jim and Steve. As Steve noted with GK, it is typically 1 shot, so you can't really change anything there  ;). Other dosage plans whether it be FSR, primarily with the radiotherapy machines,  or fractionated radiosurgery with CK all are calculated exceptionally carefully by the treatment teams. To suddenly alter between the two protocols would clearly disrupt that and I can't imagine any doctor doing that

Mark

Title: Re: Switching in mid stream
Post by: pearchica on December 05, 2007, 05:40:17 pm

Hey Rich- ditto to the others- you only do one type of radiation. It's really your choice as to what you are comfortable with.  Take care, Annie