Tomo-Therapy

Please keep the info coming. I am inquiring for my husband. I've got a couple of health care professionals checking it out for me. We would have to move out of state for it. We only have IMRT in Georgia.

DeniseB

Denise,

I don't know where you live in Georgia, but I had cancer treatment (external beam radiation) in the southern part of Georgia in 2005 at a hospital that touts itself as a cancer center. I deeply regret it, as I have on-going terrible side effects from the treatment and I'm still on a feeding tube and probably always will be. I was very, very dissatisfied with the standard of care I received there. If you have the opportunity and the means to get state-of-the-art treatment, GO FOR IT!! I tell everyone I know to go to a large teaching hospital if they are diagnosed. You won't regret it, but you might if you settle for the status quo. Best of luck to both of you. 

 Denise,

    Why let some one else check out Tomo when you can do it yourself. I had Tomo Therapy in 2005. After much research, I went to Cancer Treatment Center of America in Chicago. State of the art hospital. I am pleased to say, I had no side effects what so ever. I am doing great and living my life as I never have experienced Cancer. Remember, It's you and your husbands life. You need to make the decision on what you want, not your doctors.

 Bill

Hi Denise,,,,Just wondering what cancer your husband has....I am in Charlotte NC....very good Dr's here.

Roe M.

On 4/16/2008 DeniseB wrote:

Please keep the info coming. I am inquiring for my husband. I've got a couple of health care professionals checking it out for me. We would have to move out of state for it. We only have IMRT in Georgia.

Denis

I was treated for prostate cancer in March 2005 at CTCA using both IMRT and Tomo-therapy and am very satified with the treatment and the very minimal side efects that have completely disappeared.  If Tomo-Therapy is an option for your husband I would definitely considerate it even if you have to  get treatment in another state.

Ralph4

On 4/16/2008 DeniseB wrote:

Please keep the info coming. I am inquiring for my husband. I've got a couple of health care professionals checking it out for me. We would have to move out of state for it. We only have IMRT in Georgia.

DeniseB

I completed TomoTherapy treatment for cancer in my neck and throat in mid-December 2007.  Prior to treatment,  I was fitted for a "mask" that was worn during treatment.  In addition, I had 7 chemo treatments which where used to make the cells more receptive to the radiation.  While I I have had some minor side effects, I wouldn't have any other type of treatment.  But, each person, along with their docotr team have to decide which is best for the person undegoing treatment.  I felt very comfortable with the process and highly recomment it.  I can't imagine Georgia doesn't have Tomo.

Best of luck,

Sandy 

On 4/18/2008 birdy wrote:

What is the difference between tomotherapy and IMRT therapy?

Having had both treatments I did some research on this same question. What I have been told and found out from various sources is that with Tomo-Therapy the system not only focuses the radiation beam directly to the target but also utilizes an on board CT scanner that locates the size, position, and shape of the tumor at the time of treatment.  Any corrections to the location of the target site are inputed into the system at that time avoiding unnecessary exposure to surrounding tisue.  With me input corrections were made with each treatment.

With IMRT the radiation beam is also controlled and directed only to the target area but if the tumor has changed position  even slightly their may be some radiation that has missed the target damaging healty tissue in the surrounding area.  Again I am no expert on this subject and this is based just on my own research.  For more info on this try going up on Tomo-Therapy web site.  The last time I checked they had a wealth of information.  Also this would be an excellent question for your radiation oncologist

Ralph4

Well said Ralph. This is my understanding also. I'm going to see an expert on proton radiation and tomo next week. I'll try to discern info on that option too and bring it back to the group. But like Ralph said--ask your docs too.

Being that Ga does not have tomo--I'm just wondring "why" if it is the going thing. There are some references to helical tomo with on board scans---wonder if TomoHi-Art is just a brand name for equipment that may be around---like "kleenex" for "tissue paper"

DeniseB