Tomo Therapy - What's your experience?

Have you had radiation treatment using the TomoTherapy IMRT machine? Please tell us where & when you had treatment as well as how well you are doing.

Have you had radiation treatment using the TomoTherapy IMRT machine? Please tell us where & when you had treatment as well as how well you are doing.

 

--My mom had 33 tomotherapy treatments to her neck at UW Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.  She is 3 months post treatment.  The only side effects she had were loss of taste (which is almost back to normal), mild fatigue, slight dry mouth (which is better) and she also had some damage to her thyroid, which she is on medication for...Also, my mom lost only 10 lbs through treatment.  However, everyone is different and my mom was lucky to get by so easily and I thank God everyday for that, now we can begin to move on from this disease and get back to normal...keep us posted and if you want to talk or need more info just give me a private reply

 God Bless

John

John, wow your mom was lucky.  I am so happy for her.  My husband has had a very tough time.  He finished 37 treatments on 1-28-09 - he is still on the feeding tube because of the damage to the throat.  He has two strictures that they are trying to clear so that he can swallow.  It has been and still is a very rough road for us.  We are staying positive and thanking the Lord for each day!

Hi - my husband has had tomotherapy.  He has SCC on right tonsil, base of tongue and a tumor near the voice box - spread to lymph nodes.  The treatment has been very tough as I am sure your Dr. has told you.  Head and Neck Cancer is the very toughest to treat because of the throat and swallowing.  I read about how easy some people have had it and am amazed.  My husband has been on the feeding tube totally for 4 months - he has two strictures that have prevented him from swallowing at all.  They are working to try to get them stretched to where he can swallow.  I am not trying to scare you - just letting you know our experience.  We are trying to stay positive and thank the Lord for each day!  Good Luck and God Bless YOU!

Thanks for sharing. Where is he getting treatment? Who is his doctor? I think the oncology team is as important as the technology (perhaps more so).

Hi - Deaconess Hospital - Oklahoma City, Ok - Dr. John Taylor

He has an excellent reputation and lots of success stories - we have just had a lot of problems - it happens - we were told of all of the side effects - they can be brutal. I didn't find this website until I was desperate to know if others were facing the same thing.   I am corresponding with two others right now who are facing the same problems - two different parts of the country - world reknown centers.  I also hear from people who went through it in a breeze.  Chemo was a breeze - 10 rounds of Carbo and Taxol - no problems at all - then the radiation started!   Good luck and God Bless You!

42 yr. old male, recurrent nasopharygeal cancer stage IV, post radical neck dissection, 2nd round of radiation, concurrent with Erbitux chemo weekly. Rads every weekday (total 36) using Tomotherapy. So far 6 sessions, about 25 minutes each. Salem, Oregon. Biggest complaint is fatigue at this time, and general malaise, dry mouth, leg aches, foggy headed. The patient is my brother. He is still VERY uneasy, anxious that he might experience the same horrible side effects as the first rounds... Rad Doc says there will be no need for feeding tube... God Bless and Good Luck to all!