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Val Pfeiffer · 08-06-2006, 07:40 PM

The most important thing with IMRT is to work with a radiation oncologist who is experienced with it--and that includes experienced radiation techs.

AlaskaAngel and I just had an email conversation about IMRT; she had some scar tissue result from IMRT in 2002, so she had some legitimate concerns about IMRT, but in her situation she had had a lumpectomy, and the type of IMRT I researched involved only mastectomy cases, which, based on what I have read, require completely different radiation approaches. I bring this up because, as with any treatment, side effects and downsides should be thoroughly explored.

In any case, here is a list of the journal articles that I reprinted in the research document and case statement that I submitted to my health plan when I was requesting to step out of plan to get this type of treatment. My rad onc, Edie Krueger, studied under Lori Pierce at U of Michigan, and she co-authored with Lori one of the articles below:

1. Breast IMRT: New Tools Leading to New Vision, Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol. Phys, Vol 54, No. 5, pp. 1297-1298, 2002.

2. Clinical Aspects of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy in Treatment of Breast Cancer, Seminars in Radiation Oncology, Vol 12, No 3 (July) 2002, pp. 250-259

3. Potential Gains for Irradiation of Chest Wall and Regional Nodes with Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy, Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol. Phys, Vol 56, No. 4, pp. 1023-1037, 2003 (this isn't the appraoch for my case, but it's info about IMRT that could be useful)

4. The Use of Radiotherapy After Mastecomy: A Review of the Literature, J Clin Oncol, 23:1706-1717, 2005

5. Cardiac avoidance in breast radiotherapy: a comparison of simple shielding techniques with intensity-modualted radiotherapy, Radiotherapy and Oncology 60 (2001) 247-255

I have a couple others, but this should be enough to get you started. If you have a fax, I'd be happy to send these to you (if you promise not to bust me for copyright violations!) or I can mail you copies -- if you want to do some heavy reading before your appointment. My email is vpfeiffer@gmail.com--let me know what you need.

Good luck!!!!

08-06-2006, 07:40 PM	#13
Val Pfeiffer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 159	The most important thing with IMRT is to work with a radiation oncologist who is experienced with it--and that includes experienced radiation techs. AlaskaAngel and I just had an email conversation about IMRT; she had some scar tissue result from IMRT in 2002, so she had some legitimate concerns about IMRT, but in her situation she had had a lumpectomy, and the type of IMRT I researched involved only mastectomy cases, which, based on what I have read, require completely different radiation approaches. I bring this up because, as with any treatment, side effects and downsides should be thoroughly explored. In any case, here is a list of the journal articles that I reprinted in the research document and case statement that I submitted to my health plan when I was requesting to step out of plan to get this type of treatment. My rad onc, Edie Krueger, studied under Lori Pierce at U of Michigan, and she co-authored with Lori one of the articles below: 1. Breast IMRT: New Tools Leading to New Vision, Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol. Phys, Vol 54, No. 5, pp. 1297-1298, 2002. 2. Clinical Aspects of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy in Treatment of Breast Cancer, Seminars in Radiation Oncology, Vol 12, No 3 (July) 2002, pp. 250-259 3. Potential Gains for Irradiation of Chest Wall and Regional Nodes with Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy, Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol. Phys, Vol 56, No. 4, pp. 1023-1037, 2003 (this isn't the appraoch for my case, but it's info about IMRT that could be useful) 4. The Use of Radiotherapy After Mastecomy: A Review of the Literature, J Clin Oncol, 23:1706-1717, 2005 5. Cardiac avoidance in breast radiotherapy: a comparison of simple shielding techniques with intensity-modualted radiotherapy, Radiotherapy and Oncology 60 (2001) 247-255 I have a couple others, but this should be enough to get you started. If you have a fax, I'd be happy to send these to you (if you promise not to bust me for copyright violations!) or I can mail you copies -- if you want to do some heavy reading before your appointment. My email is vpfeiffer@gmail.com--let me know what you need. Good luck!!!! __________________ BLOG: http://valleygirlvnp.blogspot.com/ Dx 11/04, Age 42, ER-/PR-, HER2+++ 3 months weekly Herceptin, Taxol. Carboplatin Significant tumor shrinkage Mastectomy 3/05; Stage 3b, 9 cm tumor, 5/8+ nodes 3 more months weekly Herceptin, Taxol. Carboplatin 7/05 30 radiation treatments, IMRT planning approach Started 1 year of Herceptin 9/05 9/06 Began quarterly triple doses Herceptin. Brain & breast MRIs semi annually. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 6/08 Right breast, intraductal carcinoma, high nuclear grade associated with comedo necrosis; extensive diffusely involved the entire biopy specimen. ER+, PR-, Her2 unknown at this point, 07/08 mastectomy. Last edited by Val Pfeiffer; 08-06-2006 at 07:47 PM..