Plasma jet therapy

[sticky3006]

Hello ladies, I've been reading some articles about plasmajet therapy. I wondered if anybody had had this treatment for ovarian cancer spread? As far as I'm aware it's only available at The Marsden, Royal Surrey, Aberdeen and Bath. Basically the plasmajet 'targets and vaporises' disease spread but although there have been previous trials looking at its use the results aren't yet published. Many thanks in advance, xx

[Yoshbosh]

I’m interested in this too, Sticky. I don’t think I’m a candidate as I’ve had a recurrence, but it sounds like an interesting therapy.

[sticky3006 in reply to Yoshbosh]

I think I read it can be used for a recurrence. It's not used in my area as gynae dr felt there was no evidence that benefits outweighed potential risks. I'm going for a consultation at The Royal Surrey Hospital and will be discussed at The Marsden too so will hopefully find out more. Some small trials have been done into its use and they looked promising (to me!) x

[Mlowery in reply to sticky3006]

Hi

I still waiting to hear from the Royal Marsden my case when to the MDT 22 May still not heard anything. How long did you wait? My husband rang them this morning they are going to chase up. Doesn’t sound as though they want to take me on.

[Petrolhead]

Interesting. Please post an update if you find out anything else at your meeting.

Regards Fay

[eh11g11]

Hi, I know that they offer this at the Liverpool’s women’s also, my mum had surgery a few weeks ago and he used the plasmajet. The surgeon said he would use it if necessary, I had read a lot about it and Liverpool only got the machine 6 months ago. Are you waiting to find out about surgery? Ella xx

[sticky3006 in reply to eh11g11]

Yes I've had one operation but due to secondary spread they didn't proceed further. The plan was to have three lots of chemo then further surgery to try and 'scrape' away the cancer which was found on my bowel, omentum and diaphragm. I had seen an article on the plasmajet so wondered if it might have better results. I have an appt. later today so will feedback after, thanks

[juliamillen]

I had plasma jet treatment when I had my hysterectomy at The Royal Marsden Chelsea. My surgeon was very pleased with the results. My op was on Dec 22nd and my CA 125 is down to 16 atm. Hope this is helpful. I got the impression most surgery was done at Chelsea as my

Chemo etc was all done at Sutton but don’t quote me on this.

[Neona]

Please let us know anything that you find out.

[sticky3006]

I went to the Royal Surrey Hospital yesterday to see a lovely surgeon about the plasmajet tool. Very informative. Has been using the plasmajet for about 10 years and feels it is an effective tool to 'vaporise' secondaries (mine are all along the bowel with a high chance that I'd need an ileostomy when I return to theatre). The plasmajet may mean that an ileostomy isn't necessary. There have been some big trials into its use and effectiveness but the results have not yet been published. There are more UK hospitals now using it but it tends to be used more in Europe. Currently used at The Marsden, RUH in Bath, Royal Surrey, Liverpool and Aberden I think. He said that the majority of women he'd treated with the plasmajet had been left with no residual disease at the end of the operation but this of course doesn't take into account any macroscopic disease which any not be visible to the naked eye and is lurking in the background. Hope thats helpful information xx

[Yoshbosh in reply to sticky3006]

That’s incredibly helpful, Sticky. It’s something I will raise with the RM when I am next there for a review with my oncologist. Being a private patient, she’s very much focussed on what she can do for me, but I don’t know how much she bears in mind what her colleagues could do for me (no MDT system in private care). I’d be happy with surgery and chemo if they felt I might be a good candidate.

[sticky3006 in reply to Yoshbosh]

Yes good plan. I spoke to the surgeon who did my first op today at my local hospital and we discussed the plasmajet. I was interested in it as I thought it may salvage my bowel and also reduce the risk of recurrence. He said that until all the trial data was released they wouldn't know long term results but he felt there was the potential to make the bowel more prone to breakdown in the future by using the plasmajet. Its all a minefield but worth discussing with your onc. Good luck x

[Droomfles]

Hi Sticky!

I was treated successfully with plasma jet 2 months ago on primary surgery in the Netherlands. Stage2/3 and was cleaned up with the plasma jet to no residual disease. They saw some tiny tumours on my womb but treated the entire womb with plasma jet and could leave it intact (because of my age mainly). Don't know if I will ever have a recurrence but at least first surgery with it was good and it there was less damage done to tissue around the tumours because of it.

How did it eventually go with you?

[dieneke in reply to Droomfles]

Hello Droomfles

Could you tell me where you had the surgery done with the plasma jet in the Netherlands. I have cancer of the ovaries, and have been looking for a second opinion or referral for surgery. Long story, as actually the first chemo didn't get rid of the cancer, so now on my second chemo. Although I was told no more surgery, I still want to look at options. I was refused at the Marsden - long story again. As I am Dutch an option could also be a Dutch hospital.

Dank je

Dieneke

[Droomfles in reply to dieneke]

Hoi Dieneke,

The surgery was done at Antoniushove (Leidschendam/The Hague). They work together with LUMC Leiden. The surgeon/oncologist and my pathologists are from the LUMC. They were also trained with plasma jet and the machine was at the hospital at the moment I had my surgery. Think they might have pulled it of without the plasma jet, but they did favour it because it books great results. Ask for Dr. C.D. de Kroon at the LUMC.

Hope this helps and they will treat you! If you have any question just ask me.

Good luck and all the best!

[dieneke in reply to Droomfles]

Hello Droomfles, that is great. Thank you so much for that.

Dag

Dieneke

[Droomfles in reply to dieneke]

Geen dank ;). All the best and luck in the world for you!

[dieneke in reply to Droomfles]

Bedankt

[sticky3006]

I didn't have it done after all. I was very impressed when I saw the consultant at The Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford but decided to put my trust in the doctors at my hospital. I discussed the plasma jet with them and one of the consultants had received training on the plasmajet when he worked at The Marsden. He felt though that he would be able to achieve the same results using the tools he had in Poole. Not sure whether I did the right thing (and will probably never know) but at least in the future I could go back to Guildford for further treatment if needed. Hope all goes well for you, Sticky77