HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

UPDATE FROM UCSF/ RADIATION

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/16/2012 2:53 AM (GMT 0)

For anyone interested:

We had an appt. with UCSF to go over test results from Stanford after my husband had the sodium floride test that found his met in spine.

Dr.at UCSF had round table discussion with heads of Radiation, and Uro- Oncology and they agreed that my husband is a good candidate for radiating his spine.

She said it wasn't dire at this point and suggested if HT is keeping his PSA under control we could wait for our break in the HT treatment.

Here's the dilema for us, she said it would be difficult to find  a Radiation Onc. that would be willing or can even do it.

Since UCSF is out of our HMO it would be cost prohibitive.

We do have 2 Oncologists here  in our network that we have seen, so my question is: Any advice on what questions to ask local RO. to be certain he knows how to attack the spine with radiation 

Has anyone expeirenced this situation??????

One of the onc. we saw is a URO- ONC. and the other is just a Radiation Onc, who is fairly aggressive, as I think we need to attack this aggressively.

Thanks,

BOOGEE

Posted 3/16/2012 10:36 AM (GMT 0)
You might be able to inquire and talk to a doc that is experienced in this and has done many of them, he is in Michigan.  Dr. Jeff Forman currently associated with St. Joseph Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan and in conjunction with other facilities. Do a google search to find info, he may respond via an email to your questions. Originally he was trained at John Hopkins and he is extensively knowledgable in radiations and one of the very few whom have used unique radiation equipment like a Cyclotron that uses Neutron rays in treating PCa and other cancers, along with IMRT (Photon), electron and other methods.  My main protocol )for PCa) was Neutron (10 sessions) and Photon (24 sessions) by him when he was at Karmanos/DMC Medical Center. 

 You would be treated with IMRT=Photon rays if you were treated by him, the Neutron machine is currently unused and needs repairing at DMC, technically there used to be 3 machines in the whole USA for neutron use, now there is only one in operation. (just alittle history on that, it is the most power ray available and works differently upon PCa cells compared to photon or proton).

He has treated many Michigan residents for mets from what I know and heard about.  He also is a college professor at Wayne State University-Detroit I guess in radiation oncology.  He was featured in one of my PCa books, as the radiation 'guru' type of endorsement for radiation experts. Just like Pat Walsh was endorsed for surgery.

Good luck to you.

Posted 3/16/2012 11:24 AM (GMT 0)

BOOGEE said...

We do have 2 Oncologists here in our network that we have seen, so my question is: Any advice on what questions to ask local RO. to be certain he knows how to attack the spine with radiation

Has anyone expeirenced this situation??????


BOOGEE


BOOGEE, have you considered using proton radiation to treat your spine? During my time at IU Health PTC last year, I met several patients, both adult and juvenile who were there for treatment of spinal tumors. There is a real benefit to being able to use proton rather than photon radiation for the spine in terms of collateral damage. From talking to the radiation oncologists and therapists at IU Health I have no doubt that they are quite knowledgeable and experienced in treating spinal tumors.

Might want to give them a look.

Steve
Posted 3/16/2012 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
BOOGEE,

Like Skeeter suggested if you can use proton beam RT the pioneer of PBRT is in Calif. at Loma Linda. I have also read that PRT is very effective and less evasive for spine tumors that other RT's.

Good luck my brother.

Terry

Posted 3/16/2012 3:52 PM (GMT 0)

Zefus, Steve, & Terry,

 Thanks for the info.

Has anyone heard of Mack Roach @ UCSF. Our Dr. there recommended him as he is chief of staff of Radiation there.,

and quite good!

She stated there aren't any Dr.s in our area that can do this procedure, so I need to find out what kind of procedure they are talking about, I suppose.

Are any of you familiar with, if the radiation is administered by Cyberknife?

Now that PC has moved out of prostate bed and there is only 1 met. so far, doesn't it appear PC is floating around through the lymph system?

If so wouldn't it seem the PC will land somewhere else in the future.

 So confused as we are on HT and was told that could possibly do that met in or at least arrest it and radiation isn't warranted at this time. This was suggested by our Stanford Dr...

Here we are at 2 different teaching hospitals & Dr's and they don't even agree let alone all our other Dr's, surgeon ETC.

Thanks,

BOOGEE

Posted 3/16/2012 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
Has anybody heard of Mack Roach? Oh My God! Only that he is one of the very top radiologists in North America and has much experience with prostate cancer patients. His fingerprints are all over much of the research in radiation and PCa, metaphorically speaking. If you can actually meet with him, he agrees to personally supervise the treatment, and your insurer will cover the treatment then you are one very lucky individual.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply