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Joined: 11/7/2009
Posts: 2
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Hello, I have a "what if" question for you. My mother was recently diagnosed w/ lung cancer, squamous cell. One tumor in lower left lobe, one in upper hilar region, and in the mediastinum. She just completed chemo and radiation. The tumor in the upper hilar has disappeared completely, and the mediastinal area showed a 25% shrinkage. These were the areas that the radiation onc. wanted to hit the hardest. The lower lobe tumor remained unchanged (expected due to lower dose radiation). She is undergoing a left lower lobectomy and mediastinal resection next week, but her doctors still seem very concerned about the mediastinum. Would cyberknife be an option down the road for this area, if needed? She will not be able to have more radiation in this area, her doctor said she received the maximum amount possible. Thanks for any input!
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Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 928
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Cyberknife may well be an option, but the mediastinum is a tricky area to treat. I would suggest having her films reviewed at a CK facility near you for their opinion regarding risks and benefits CK treatment in this situation. CK would likely be preferable to more conventional RT in terms of risk to critical structures that already received a high radiation dose.
Jerome J. Spunberg, M.D., FACR, FACRO
CyberKnife Center of Palm Beach
jspunberg@radiationoncologyinstitute.com
(561) 799-2828 Radiation Oncology Institute
10335 N. Military Trail, Suite C
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
(561) 624-1717
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Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 928
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Cyberknife may well be an option, but the mediastinum is a tricky area to treat. I would suggest having her films reviewed at a CK facility near you for their opinion regarding risks and benefits CK treatment in this situation. CK would likely be preferable to more conventional RT in terms of risk to critical structures that already received a high radiation dose.
Jerome J. Spunberg, M.D., FACR, FACRO
CyberKnife Center of Palm Beach
jspunberg@radiationoncologyinstitute.com
(561) 799-2828 Radiation Oncology Institute
10335 N. Military Trail, Suite C
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
(561) 624-1717
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Joined: 11/7/2009
Posts: 2
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Dr., wow! Thank you for your very quick reply. I appreciate your information and am glad to have CK as a possible option "just in case." We'll see what happens after the surgery, I believe we have CK here in Pittsburgh. Thank you again!
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Joined: 10/10/2008
Posts: 355
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Agree with Dr. J - Mediastinum may be a tricky shot, esp w prior RT - We may know a trick or two to make mediastinal CK a potential option though, but best to try and resect everything first, w CK held for "troubleshooting" - Good luck -
Donald B. Fuller, M.D. Radiation Oncologist CyberKnife Centers of San Diego 477 N El Camino Real, Ste D101 Encinitas, CA 92024 (760) 230-6706 dfuller@rmgmed.com
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