NanoKnife??

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NanoKnife??

by therewillbeaday on Mon Jun 04, 2012 05:50 AM

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I just lost my dad to pancreatic cancer.....and yes I am bitter! We traveled to Louisville to have the whipple procedure along with the Nanoknife procedure done by Dr Martin in May of 2011. At my dads first check-up "after" the procedure the tumor was already back....it was actually bigger than before he had the surgery!  Our local oncologist asked if he even had the tumor removed? I am not trying to ruin anyones hopes here.....and I realize there are few options for this terrible cancer......but in my opinion the Nanoknife didn't gain my father a thing! I would also like to note that after Dr Martin found out that my dad's tumor was back....he didn't want to deal with us anymore? I think  because we couldn't be a warm fuzzy success story for him......we no longer mattered. As I mentioned in the begining I am bitter! I hate cancer! I hate "the system"! And in my opinion the ONLY thing that matters is how much money can be made by all the doctors involved! My sincere thoughts and prayers go out to anyone who is fighting this disease! Rest in peace dad! I love you and God bless you! 

RE: NanoKnife??

by PhilipJax on Mon Jun 04, 2012 10:28 AM

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Dear There, I suggest that you switch to a different thread. Just Google <philipjax nanoknife> to find it.

Also, read ALL posts in the following link.
http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,63127

In addition, review all posts for philipjax, including the following:

For Pancreatic Cancer, first undertake Nanoknife (Irreversible Electroporation, IRE), then the Whipple Procedure.

For journal articles on IRE prospects see the publications list at thebottomofhttp://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01369420.  describe intervention by Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA), IRE may be expected to produce similar or better results. A fine article on the workings of IREisathttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2989557/p

Most IRE and RFA procedures are performed by interventional radiologists, not surgeons. It is better if you can find a surgical oncologist who utilizes the technology, because he will then be able to use it during open surgery as well, and he has better surgery perspectives. A related storyisathttp://commcgi.cc.stonybrook.edu/am2/publish/Genera

Do not waste your time on radiotherapy, such as Cyberknife. It is unlikely to gain any lasting benefit.

Much IRE work has been done at the following institutions:

·       Baptist Health,Little Rock,AR:888-227-8478www.baptist-health.com;

·       Valley Baptist,Harlingen,Texas 956-389-1854;

·       University ofMiami,Sylvester Cancer Center,Florida,https://www.med.miami.edu/patients/sccc_nanoknife.asp;

·       PiedmontCancerCenter,Atlanta,GA, 404-425-7925,http://piedmontcancer.org/oth/Page.asp?PageID=OTH000418;

·       Banner Health Good Samaritan,Phoenix,AZ, 602-839-2000

·       Special consideration should be given to Robert Martin, MD, PhD, FACS at theUniversity ofLouisville, 502-629-3355, who is an oncological surgeon.

·       To Fred M Moeslein, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Diagnostic Radiology,University ofMaryland,School ofMedicine, who is an aggressive interventional radiologist.

·       ToStephen B. Solomon, MD, Chief of the Interventional Radiology,MemorialSloanKetteringCancerCenter.

·       ToSandeep Bagla,MD, CVIR Department,InovaAlexandriaHospital,Alexandria,Virginia, who is an interventional radiologist;

·       ToSteven J Citron, MD, Radiology Associates ofAtlanta,Atlanta,Georgia.

·       The most IRE work on humans, though not Pancreatic, has been done by Dr Govindarajan Narayanan, Chief Vascular Interventional Radiology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine (avoidJose M. Yrizarry, MD, of that institution).

Overall the best institution for Pancreatic Cancer care is MD Anderson Cancer Center inHouston,Texas, but it surprisingly does not utilize IRE as yet. Pancreatic Cancer will metastasize to the liver. Steven A Curley, MD, of MDACC is likely the best liver surgical oncologist in the nation. He is a developer of RFA techniques. RFA, as Dr Curley has recently shown, has a high cancer recurrence rate, which makes it surprising that MDACC has not acquired IRE (Nanoknife) equipment.

Do not hesitate to travel, thinking it inconvenient. Death is far more inconvenient. This cancer is a swiftly moving parade, one misstep, and one cannot go back to take a path forsaken earlier.

One final note: If you are accepted for therapy by an IRE practitioner, and he wishes to delay work to await the outcome of a previous procedure, do not wait. Have the IRE done immediately.

Philip

RE: NanoKnife??

by bambi99d on Mon Jun 04, 2012 08:09 PM

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I feel your pain. My Mom passed from PC in March 2012. She had the Nanoknife in April 2011. Her tumor did have significant shrinkage initially but it came back in Fall 2011 while on chemo. I go back and forth all the time wondering if we did the right thing having the Nanoknife. She had complications from it and lost a lot weight during the recovery. It really cut into her quality of life for several months. In the end, I know we did everything we could so I’m trying to be a peace with that. It’s something that will take time. God Bless.

RE: NanoKnife??

by PhilipJax on Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:54 PM

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Bambi,

There are two components to the answer.  Almost no one survives pancratic cancer.  The incidence rate is equal to the death rate.  So, attempting IRE is a very reasonable thing to do.  It is the only new technology available that might have made a difference.

The other component is the QUALITY of the specific IRE event - whether it was well-done, whether it could have been better performed.

Finally, there are 3 new developments, which I posted in another tread.  To find it, place philipjax nanoknife on the word line of Google.

I would have done it, even at the risk of shortening a life, that is, if the patient wants to live.

Philip

RE: NanoKnife??

by therewillbeaday on Tue Jun 05, 2012 12:43 AM

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Bambi, Your mom is in my thoughts and prayers and you have my sincere sympathy! Philjack I am not trying to be a jerk here but you can post and post and blah blah blah all you want. My dad is gone and I have already done all the research that I am going to do. But I will NEVER encourage anyone to try the Nanoknife because like Bambi posted with her mom....it set my dad back so far that he was never right again! The year "after" his Nanoknife surgery....all I can say is .... he was alive.....but he was NOT living! Again I am not on here trying to discourage anyone or for anyone to give up hope! I just want my opinions to be crystal clear on how I feel about the Nanoknife and the whole cancer treatment system for that matter! My dad and I had many talks in his last month. He broke down and cried thinking that he was the "only one" that the Nanoknife didn't work on. I told him that he was not alone and that the numbers we were given on its success rate...... were far from the truth! Again not looking to argue Phil and my words may seem harsh......I am just bitter right now with the whole medical field and want others to really choose there path of treatment wisely and to have real facts from a real person who has dealt with it first hand! God bless you all! 

 

RE: NanoKnife??

by PhilipJax on Tue Jun 05, 2012 01:28 AM

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I indeed have first hand knowledge.  I did not say that IRE would save the patient.  It likely would not.  The best one can hope is to gain addition time, enough for the arrival of a salvation therapy.  (There are 3 new chemo-based thereapies I review, with links to the source for each.  Read them.)

I suggest you education yourself thoroughly about the disease and therapies, beginning with the NCCN guidelines.  It takes a lot of work to find the right path.  A very capable family member must leave all obligations and seek the best therapies.  PC is a rapidly moving parade - one misstep, and you cannot go back and take a path forsaken earlier.

Also, shift over to the other thread, that I suggest, and read all my postings.  Then, give my your thoughts.

You will find many suggestions about how to find the best oncological surgeon, the best facilities, and the best therapies - for numerous diseases.  It takes a lot of work.  Buy, if you do it now you will be ready when the next life-threatening disease strikes a loved one.

Philip

RE: NanoKnife??

by shelby1 on Tue Jun 05, 2012 02:00 PM

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Hello therewillbeaday

My heart goes out to you and your dad and also to each and everyone who had and has to deal with PC. We are all very different in our makeup and situations. My husband had the Nanoknife one year ago and is here today. He is always very tired but his daily routine is as "normal" as mine. We were lucky in many ways, most importantly in the ways chemo held things at bay which allowed us to try Nanoknife. We looked at it as another step to help us. There are other things that we can still utilize.

We did do many hours and days of research that is why we post on this site. Nanoknife is a personal decision that can   only be done within a limited time frame. To my knowledge there can be no metastases. We had a Pet scan first. We did not have a complete Whipple after, which was really not necessary for many reasons. We had two bypasses, one previously and one with the Nanoknife. We still have our pancreas. This decision was met with approval with many of our doctors including our consultatnt at Hopkins. We are not all the same in our physical makeup at all! Nanoknife is a new treatment which may become standard or not. Folfirinox is a new treatment that is becoming a new standard. Maybe not as it depends on time.  These treatments are not right for everybody. They are both "starts" of something possibly harmful to pancreatic cancer itself. We all try our best. Cancer is life threatening, all cancers!!!!  Many cancers of 40 years ago are survivable today and no one should EVER say that PC is not one of them. Why bother researching?  

I am trully sorry that your dad has passed away because of Pancreatic cancer but your dad did try to conquer it. I don't know what happened but I know that the Nanoknife and whatever else you tried became not for you, but for others, a  step forward in knowledge against PC .

As far as Dr. Martin and his attitude  that's a issue that we probably all have come across with many doctors. It's not right and it should be addressed. This is a great place to address it!!!! We are very verbal with our doctors, some take it some don't. We learned really really early that we are responsible for our own health. Doctors are just the source of information we need  so we can go forward. Sad thought but we think pretty accurate. Insurance is also a hassle to overcome!!!

My husband did well so far with the Nanoknife. My posts on this site go back well over one year in which I asked many many many times for anyone with over over one year success with Nanoknife. They are out there and we are now one of them. Remember your dad well and ******* Dr.Martin !.   

Pat

RE: NanoKnife??

by Clarisax82 on Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:40 PM

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I am very sad to hear about your dad. My mom had the nano knife with doc Martin is November 2011. He removed part of her pancreas and her spleen. Her scan in February showed the tumor back. We have had a very good experience with Dr. Martin though. I was surprised you said that. He suggested she go on chemo again and he says he still feels very hopeful and will try the surgery again. They haven an appt with him this month. The recovery from the surgery was awful though. The she was in so much pain, but it seems the pain was from the tumor again. It's hard to say. The chemo has been horrible, too. They think they permanently damaged her bone marrow, so no more chemo.... I agree with you though. I hate stupid cancer and I hate a lot of the standard procedures that have to go on. It all sucks.

RE: NanoKnife??

by therewillbeaday on Thu Jun 14, 2012 02:39 AM

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Clarisax

 I am very sad to hear that your mom's tumor is back! I assure you that she will be in my prayers! I do have a favor to ask of you.....when you go see Dr Martin again ask him the success rate of past patients who have had a "second" nanoknife procedure? I would be very interested to know his answer. He suggested that with my dad....but he never recovered from the first one so we never got the chance for a second!  I could not agree with you more......it all sucks! God bless you and God bless your mom!!!  

RE: NanoKnife??

by shelby1 on Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:33 PM

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I have a real dumb question.  Is the tumor back or does it t look like it on the Scan. We had two scans,one in Feb. 2012 and again in May. They were done not where we had the Nano. but home and the doctors say everything looks like it did before the Nano back in.Sept . One did say it could be scar tissue or the tumor. We had a biopsy done in Nov. (EUS)  at the Nano place and it's not back it just looks like it is. The black area is suppose to be scar tissue. Our Oncologist does not believe in CA -19 test numbers so we're waiting to hear from the doctor who did the Nano and see what his people think about the new  scan. If we are not satisfied  with the answers then we'll go for another EUS/biopsy.  Insurance does  not O.K. Pet Scans. Wonder why. Be hard to think that they know why it isn't necessary because how does one know whats "active" or not  especially since it's a "new" procedure.  I  thought our doctor did say this First Nano procedure but we never discussed doing it again. We had open surgery and we won't/can't do that again.!!   Dr. Martin presented his "case" results this March  along with other institutions and it's on the Web under the company name. Just Google Nano results and it should pop up.

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