CancerCompass message board discussion started by Corkycaca on 2/3/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,9360,0.htm Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Has anyone undergone this treatment? The SirSpheres is supposed to attack the tumors in the liver without damaging the surrounding tissue. Can anyone tell me of their experience with this treatment? Corkycaca Sat, 03 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT HiIs this  the same as theresphere?If yes , I have had one theresphere and about 4 cheomoembolations. Which are treated right into liver. (theresphere is radiated beads ) My cancer is very slow growing, as of 2 months ago it has not proceeded in My liver, but it has in My lungs.(My previous writings are back at least a page under "Friend needed)If you decide to have one of these treatments, I don't mind answering any questions.Will be out of town for a few days, headed to Boston, Mass for a clinical trial on stoping tumor growth. So will let All know if I get into study and how it goes.Deets    Deets Tue, 06 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT Would appreciate it a lot. My wife is currently doing Taxel/Carbo - last four months with a month break for her first PET scan. I am trying to see if we can attack the liver as a seperate front to knock down the mets to possibly do a ressection. The Sir Spheres sound remarkably similiar to your treatment. They go through to the hepatic artery doing one lobe at a time. I am curious about the side effects - if any. My wife is apprehensive about this but I try and tell her that it is a high dosage of radiation in a localize setting as the spheres attach themselves to the cancers. Corkycaca Tue, 06 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT Corky - Where are you now? Have not heard from you and  I have been reading what reading what you are going through, but I am not clear on your situtation since we have spoke before? Sonda (Lou) Lou38s Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT The situation is my wife has adenocarcinoma to the lungs and liver dx in Sept of last year. She has been on a steady regime of carbo/taxel. Last week had her first pet scan in 5 months. All indicators were good: no new mets, lymphs shrunk a lot, and shrinkage in the lungs with good damage to the cancer in the liver. She went back on chemo today and will proceed on that  level with her current doc. I have scheduled her to go to Cedar Sinai to see a Dr Wolin. He is the first doc who has wanted to pursue her case on a level above pallative. He wants to look for the primary cause of this cancer and has offered alternatives to chemo, especially for the liver. That is why I was asking for anyone to give info on Sir Spheres as a form of radiation. I know it is polimer balls that have been irridated and are injected into the liver one lobe at a time. The balls stick to the cancer radiating only a 1/16" depth so you won't have healthy tissue affected. If he can shrink it to a managable level there is a possiblity for ressection of the liver. Corkycaca Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT We are trying to figure out what to do next for the liver cancer.What did your wife do to "damage the liver tumors'...No one is really offering us much info...I am actually the one who had to keep pushing his doc to give us more options...He has already had a resection and then the adria then the SIRTS.  What is helping you guys? .....B Bscoggs Tue, 13 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT I think the number one thing my wife has that will keeps her going is the strength of her convictions and the courage of her character to fight against this monster. If you don't bring this to the table, it isn't going to be an easy battle. Never stop educating yourself with any info to help with tx and to allow you to ask your docs the right questions. Exercise as much as possible to keep up your strength. Eat healthy with as many calories as you can take. Understand many people suffer from malnutrition before the cancer gets them. Take suppliments to help your immune system fight the beast. My wife takes: essiac tea, shark oil, echinacea, astragalus, shitake/reshi/mitake, a good multivitamin, extra calcium, ester c, flax oil, and borage oil. Stay away from refined sugar as it feeds the cancer. Keep your ph as alkaline as possible - cancer likes it aciditic. Get lots of rest/sleep. Never be afraid to pray. And never give up, never give in, and never give out!!! Hope this helps...God bless!!! Corkycaca Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT HelloSorry I have not answered earlier.Was ruled out for clinical study in Boston. But did learn about a treatment plan that it recently out of study (not sure if names are spelled correct)to include avastan, gemsidabine and ?. Am waiting for appointment with oncologist in Wisconsin where I live.Back to the side effects I was off of work for about 10 days (total days from treatment day). Was weak, tired , not much appetite. Did own my own business so when I went back to work I could rest at my desk during the day. (I am a florist) I would jump at the offer of this or chemoembolation, We think this has really helped stop or slow the growth of tumors in My liver. Both include a nights stay after treatment in the hospital. After treatment you do have to lay flat for hours but just rest and it goes pretty fast, nurses are alway checking stats so it was not to bad. It has been almost a year since either of these treatments so I think you forget some of the side effects. ( I did have multiple chemoembos and 1 of the theresphere. If any other specific questions just ask.Deets  Deets Mon, 19 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT Just went to Cedar Sinai for a consult with one of the most amazing docs I have ever met: Edward Wollin. His energy and positive attitude has made may wife feel a 100% better without any treatment. He is the only doc that emailed me prior to the appointment to discuss options and called me late one Friday evening to discuss my wife's case. His hospital has zeroed in on the cause of my wife's cancer: lung. The only bummer with this diagnosis is that my insurance may not cover the liver as a secondary cancer. Did you have any problem with your coverage and if you did, how did you get around same. As a follow up to our first consult last night, Dr Wollin called one of his team in another part of the hospital around 7:00 and low and behold we got to see another amazing doc: Nick Nessan who also stated that sir spheres or therasheres will give you the most bang for your buck. I am scared that I will have to do battle with my insurance company over this treatment. Help me out if you can.  Thanks and keep fighting on:)   Corkycaca Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT HelloWhen I had these treatments I did not have any problems with insurance. This was the first site of my cancer so I am not sure if this makes a diffrence.Take care wish all the best!Deets  Deets Mon, 26 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT Thanks for the info keep me apprised of your progress. My wife unfortunately started having ascites - probably first of last week. Gained 10-12 lbs. Have put her on a restricted salt diet and dieuritics to stem the liquid. This is not good in my opinion. Did you have to go through this? Or can anyone weigh in on the prognosis. I think it is not good. As always: "Never give up, never give in, never give out." Go with God. Corkycaca Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hello No I did not have these symptoms. How is your wife doing at this time.My oncologist and I are looking for next treatment, as my liver cancer has spread to my lungs. With multiple Chemo emb's and theresphere and sysytemic chemo in the past, most clinical trials are out for me. Lastest is a  new biologic drug if my insurance ok's it or possible study across the country of a similar drug, but alot of traveling.Deets  Deets Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 2/15/2007 Corkycaca wrote:I think the number one thing my wife has that will keeps her going is the strength of her convictions and the courage of her character to fight against this monster. If you don't bring this to the table, it isn't going to be an easy battle. Never stop educating yourself with any info to help Thwith tx and to allow you to ask your docs the right questions. Exercise as much as possible to keep up your strength. Eat healthy with as many calories as you can take. Understand many people suffer from malnutrition before the cancer gets them. Take suppliments to help your immune system fight the beast. My wife takes: essiac tea, shark oil, echinacea, astragalus, shitake/reshi/mitake, a good multivitamin, extra calcium, ester c, flax oil, and borage oil. Stay away from refined sugar as it feeds the cancer. Keep your ph as alkaline as possible - cancer likes it aciditic. Get lots of rest/sleep. Never be afraid to pray. And never give up, never give in, and never give out!!! Hope this helps...God bless!!!Thank u so much for the help. My husband takes milk thistle and a greens supplement that has selinium and a ton of other minerals in it. I am not very good at navigating this site ...i kind of get lost. Anyway i've been trying to keep him away from the sugar...he's been really indulging that lately. I wish he'd check out this site but he's too hardheaded. Th edoc told him " It would be a miracle if he made it the year" well that was June 13, 2006....He did the SIRsperes in Dec 06 and his tumors have remained stable for 6 months! AMAZING right? BUT a 6cm tumor has now popped up on his lung and attached to his rib....Doing radiation to try and shrink that so we can do chemo...Ant suggestions? He is only 37 and UGGGGGG! it just makes me furious......The cat scan says his liver tumors are too many too count. How old is your wife? when was she diagnosed?  Hope tp hear from you soon....  Bscoggs Mon, 04 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT