Anyone get re-seeded?

[Alan Meyer]

On another thread ("What should I be asking the urologist tomorrow?")
Ron raised the possibility of getting a contour map of the prostate
showing where all the seeds were planned to go and where they
actually are after seeding, revealing any "hot" or "cold" spots, i.e.,
spots getting more or less radiation than planned. Seeds show up
easily on any kind of xray sensitive film or scanner, so it should not
be hard to create such a map.

For cold spots especially, Ron raised the question, why couldn't the
doctor insert another seed or two to insure that all planned radiation
targets were in fact hit.

Have any of our brachytherapy patients had this done?

Has anyone had a doctor produce a profile map of the prostate?
Has anyone had a doctor go back to place any additional seeds?

Thanks.

Alan

[Beverley]

Hubby never lost a seed so no reseeding. Our doc does about 3 reseeds per
year usually because someone has lost a seed or two. Also if he feels there
is a cool/cold spot left he will add additional seeds. The prostate is
scanned about 3 weeks after seeding and this is checked carefully against
the map to make certain all seeds are accounted and for any shift creating a
cool/cold spot. I remember the doc saying they want to see 94% coverage.
Hubby had 98% on scan.

I did get to see the map on a computer screen. It was interesting. I also
saw the monitor during the 3 week check but I couldn't really say at what I
was looking.
Bev


"Alan Meyer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
> On another thread ("What should I be asking the urologist tomorrow?")
> Ron raised the possibility of getting a contour map of the prostate
> showing where all the seeds were planned to go and where they
> actually are after seeding, revealing any "hot" or "cold" spots, i.e.,
> spots getting more or less radiation than planned. Seeds show up
> easily on any kind of xray sensitive film or scanner, so it should not
> be hard to create such a map.
>
> For cold spots especially, Ron raised the question, why couldn't the
> doctor insert another seed or two to insure that all planned radiation
> targets were in fact hit.
>
> Have any of our brachytherapy patients had this done?
>
> Has anyone had a doctor produce a profile map of the prostate?
> Has anyone had a doctor go back to place any additional seeds?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Alan
>
>

[John Loomis]

Hi Beverly,
Wow, That is amazing technology!
I am very impressed.....
John Loomis, surviving RP/
"Beverley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:9Zdsh.38$QE6.5@trnddc02...
> Hubby never lost a seed so no reseeding. Our doc does about 3 reseeds per
> year usually because someone has lost a seed or two. Also if he feels
> there
> is a cool/cold spot left he will add additional seeds. The prostate is
> scanned about 3 weeks after seeding and this is checked carefully against
> the map to make certain all seeds are accounted and for any shift creating
> a
> cool/cold spot. I remember the doc saying they want to see 94% coverage.
> Hubby had 98% on scan.
>
> I did get to see the map on a computer screen. It was interesting. I also
> saw the monitor during the 3 week check but I couldn't really say at what
> I
> was looking.
> Bev
>
>
> "Alan Meyer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]..
>> On another thread ("What should I be asking the urologist tomorrow?")
>> Ron raised the possibility of getting a contour map of the prostate
>> showing where all the seeds were planned to go and where they
>> actually are after seeding, revealing any "hot" or "cold" spots, i.e.,
>> spots getting more or less radiation than planned. Seeds show up
>> easily on any kind of xray sensitive film or scanner, so it should not
>> be hard to create such a map.
>>
>> For cold spots especially, Ron raised the question, why couldn't the
>> doctor insert another seed or two to insure that all planned radiation
>> targets were in fact hit.
>>
>> Have any of our brachytherapy patients had this done?
>>
>> Has anyone had a doctor produce a profile map of the prostate?
>> Has anyone had a doctor go back to place any additional seeds?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Alan
>>
>>
>
>

[Steve Jordan]

On January 19, Alan Meyer wrote, in pertinent part:

(snip)

> For cold spots especially, Ron raised the question, why couldn't the
> doctor insert another seed or two to insure that all planned
> radiation targets were in fact hit.
>
> Have any of our brachytherapy patients had this done?
>
> Has anyone had a doctor produce a profile map of the prostate? Has
> anyone had a doctor go back to place any additional seeds?

I have seen a lecture by rad onc Gordon Grado (Scottsdale AZ) that
included x-rays showing misplaced "seeds."

As I recall, such blunders can be treated via surgery, but not easily.

Regards,

Steve J

"We have not lost faith, but we have transferred it from God to the
medical profession."
-- George Bernard Shaw

[Alan Meyer]

"Beverley" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:9Zdsh.38$QE6.5@trnddc02...
> Hubby never lost a seed so no reseeding. Our doc does about 3 reseeds per
> year usually because someone has lost a seed or two. Also if he feels there
> is a cool/cold spot left he will add additional seeds. The prostate is
> scanned about 3 weeks after seeding and this is checked carefully against
> the map to make certain all seeds are accounted and for any shift creating a
> cool/cold spot. I remember the doc saying they want to see 94% coverage.
> Hubby had 98% on scan.
>
> I did get to see the map on a computer screen. It was interesting. I also
> saw the monitor during the 3 week check but I couldn't really say at what I
> was looking.
> Bev

Son-of-a-gun.

When Ron suggested this I thought, well, that's an interesting theory, but
I'd never heard of it being done.

But it looks like he was right on target.

Sounds like your doctor is more thorough than the average bear.

Alan

[Alex]

"Steve Jordan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:Woesh.52586$[email protected]..
> On January 19, Alan Meyer wrote, in pertinent part:
>
> (snip)
>
>> For cold spots especially, Ron raised the question, why couldn't the
>> doctor insert another seed or two to insure that all planned
>> radiation targets were in fact hit.
>>
>> Have any of our brachytherapy patients had this done?
>>
>> Has anyone had a doctor produce a profile map of the prostate? Has
>> anyone had a doctor go back to place any additional seeds?
>
> I have seen a lecture by rad onc Gordon Grado (Scottsdale AZ) that
> included x-rays showing misplaced "seeds."
>
Seed migration is not uncommon. Various studies show as few as 1% to as many
as 50% of patients have at least one seed migrate from the prostate to
another organ, often the lung, but sometimes the heart. Normally there is no
adverse effect on the other organs; the majore concern is the reduction in
radiation to the prostate. There is more detail at
www.oncura.com/PDF/EshlemanSeedMigrate.pdf and
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/431747.

Alex

[kh]

Alan Meyer wrote:

>
> For cold spots especially, Ron raised the question, why couldn't the
> doctor insert another seed or two to insure that all planned radiation
> targets were in fact hit.
>
> Have any of our brachytherapy patients had this done?

No, the doc said I had perfect coverage.

> Has anyone had a doctor produce a profile map of the prostate?

Yes, it looks like an X-ray (I think it's really a CAT Scan) with
topographic contour lines.

> Has anyone had a doctor go back to place any additional seeds?

No but I imagine they could.

I "think" they do a better than 100% coverage and one or two misplaced
seeds isn't an issue as the neighboring seeds still give 100% coverage.
It's probably something like, they'd have to have several out of
place before there's a problem.

>
> Thanks.
>
> Alan

-kh