Tomo Therapy

Hey Guys, Thanks for the feed back on the tomotherapy. I have done a lot of researching and reading. My friends, in the health field,were trying to research if this is a brand name of machinery and if is equivalent to helical tomo. It is not clear in the research papers I 've read--I'm not a radiologist. I am shocked that Ga does not have one right now....I researched it, but Pheobe Putney Hospital in Albany, Ga will have it in mid-May. They will have a learning curve and will not start with head and neck cancers. Tomo may not be the newest/ultimate choice--there is work with a proton unit in other areas also.

My husband and i are headed to Fla on Monday to see a radiation oncologist who has a passion for head and neck CA and sees my husband's situation as urgent.  We are in a large metro city and have been waiting "our turn" for 8 weeks---seeing various docs, but the wheel is too slow. After I spoke with him, he wanted to make time for us the next day!! I believe this is divine intervention.

Please keep it going,

DeniseB

Can I have the Dr's contact information in Florida? May wish to see him myself.

Good luck to you guys.

God Bless.

Rick

On 4/24/2008 birdy wrote:

What is the difference between Tomo therapy and IMRT, from what I have seen they seem simliar, does anyone know what the difference is?

The major diff is that "tomo" does  a CT scan right before each rad treatment. This allows for much better focus. My doctor says like comparing a shotgun to a riffle, regarding unwanted overspray. I am personally driving a 400 mile round trip each week ( KS to OK ) for treatments M-F in OK City. While staying in a Motel by yourself isn't fun, I feel that when talking about such a small area of focus, it will be worth it in the long run. By the way, the Amer. Cancer Soc. may offer their " guestroom service "in the City where the "tomo" service may be offered. They work with several hotel chains, and can get you rooms for little or nothing.

Faith, Hope and Love, God Bless!

D. B. B.