Cyberknife??

[joanie55]

I'm going to see a cyberknife surgeon for a consultation this afternoon. My primary onc has said he would review and consult with him, but cautions me that this won't be a "cure". He's an excellent doctor, but maybe because I'm one of the most optomistic people in the whole world, he always tries to temper my enthusiasm slightly.

My question is this: Is there anything specific I should be asking or looking for as far as this goes. I found this doctor by going to a seminar he gave, looked him up and didn't see anything bad written about him and its an excellent hospital. I'm just a little nervous about this whole thing.

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

Joan

[karen335]

Joanie,

Try Trish in Florida... Her husband just had Cyberknife and he is cancer free...

Sending prayers and well wishes. Pray this is your cure. Please keep us posted.

Karen

[SSF]

Joanie -

have you been on the web site - www.cyberknifesupport.org? They actually have doctors who answer your questions and they may be able to give you a list if you ask. They are also VERY prompt in responses. It couldn't hurt to try.....

Sandra

[joanie55]

Karen, thanks so much and you're absolutely right. I'll try to contact Trish.

Sandra, thank you for this site. Hadn't heard about it and it sounds perfect.

[bethluvswill13]

NO ANSWERS FOR YOU...I'LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU THOUGH.

[trishnmiller]

Dear Joan, I sent you a private message but I wanted to respond here as well. The medical community is just beginning to use Cyberknife, Gamma Knife,and IMRT stereotactic radiation in the cure and control of later the stages of NSCLC. In Japan, articles have appeared about Stage IV patients receiving this treatment for "palative care" and then living past the magic 5 year survivor marker...still living as a matter of fact. They don't yet know why it is making such a difference. I really believe it will be up to all us to change the approach to late stage lung cancer. In honor of the Olympics I say "Go for the Gold" (cure).

Optimism is what it is all about.

Trish

[joanie55]

Trish,

You're amazing and I absolutely love your thinking. I can't believe I hadn't heard anything about this until very recently. It does make sense though. I actually didn't love the doctor I saw today but will be calling one of the major NY hospitals that just started doing this there.

Thanks so much.

Joan

[Don M]

I will probably be doing cyberknife surgry too. The website that Joanie mentions is a great site. They say to make sure you choose a center that has the synchrony software running the robotics.

Don M