TARGIT IORT

Hi , I haven’t had this but I’m sure it’s what WhatHappened had so I’m tagging her. It wasn’t mentioned to me so I had the standard 15 days external rads. WhatHappened is very positive about it and explains it really well so I’m sure she’ll pop in soon. I assume you haven’t had your op yet? I’m sure I’ve seen your name on another thread. Sending love and a big virtual hug for now, HFxx

Hi HF!

Thanks for replying, I was just curious about it as have read about it, it's not been offered to me and I don't think it is available in my area!!!

What happened is such  helpful lady, really kind. In fact you are all wonderful ladies x

Hope you are doing well now x

JD

Hi , I’ve got a thread bookmarked for IORT - it’s 6 months old but you can find it HERE. I didn’t have it myself but maybe you can contact the lady that did.  Very best of luck with your treatment!

Loffie x

Thanks Loffie

I hope you are doing well x

Hello ,

Sorry for delay getting back to you.  HappyFeet1 is right, I did have TARGIT IORT.....  and I can only praise my Consultants and this amazing treatment.  I had my treatment under the main care of Professor Vaidya.

Sadly, this treatment was 'not' mentioned to me in my choice of treatments.... I believe this is contrary to what our Doctors and Nurses should do, I believe they are suppose to tell us about 'all' treatments out there 'whether suitable to not' - they should be open and transparent and tell us everything.  

Sadly, there is a lot of bureaucratic red tape as to why we aren't told ..... firstly triggered by the Radiologist Departments saying this treatment will cost jobs... because suitable BC patients won't need 3 to 4 weeks of radiotherapy, saying machines will be idle and it will cost jobs.... instead of seeing 'it will free up machines for other patents to have their treatments sooner'.

This all said, there are criteria that need to be met to be suitable for this type of treatment and many, many ladies do met this criteria and are still not told of this treatment.

I massively stepped out of my comfort zone to have this treatment, I was scared and so easily could of stayed with the conventional treatment.   Thankfully my drive not to let my dear mom know about the BC was what pushed me on.... and I am so, so glad I did.  I have no regrets, none at all.

If you are suitable for this type of treatment then your Consultant, Hospital, Nurse, Macmillan Nurse can tell you of the hospitals that are doing this treatment.

"The NHS Constitution gives people living in England the right to choose where to receive treatment"..... therefore, if you find the hospital doing this treatment - you have every right to go there for this treatment.  The problem we have has patients, we don't know this, we don't the treatment, we don't understand the systems and most of all 'we are in turmoil with the news we have received and all this pushes us to go with 'what we are offered' .... don't get me wrong, we are offered amazing treatment.... but there is more treatment they are withholding from us, purposely forgetting to tell us..... my moan is 'how can women get this treatment - when it is not even discussed, we are not even given the chance to have this treatment.

My advice would be, firstly, you could ask you Consultant or BC Nurse if your hospital does this treatment, if they say know, ask how you get refer to a hospital that does this treatment.  Don't get me wrong..... I think you will have a little bit of a fight on your hands to be referred - but honestly, don't be scared - if you are suitable, it will all fall into place.  

If you Consultant/BC Nurse are not helpful, you could either contact (or get someone to do this for you, or better still, pretend you are someone else - so you can ask all the questions 'for your friend') .... you could even contact my Consultants Secretary and ask how you get referred via the NHS for this treatment.  I am sure they will try to help, they have fought for years to get this treatment out there for us and now it is out there the people working in the system are now letting us down.

You will be told it is not available or it will take weeks, this seems to be the way of 'putting people of pursuing this treatment'.... unless you can find or have a very good Doctor, Consultant, Nurse etc that will work with you.

The majority of participating hospitals are in London, there are a few others around the country, but I'm unsure of them at the moment.  Phone one of the hospitals up and ask for the BC department and ask if they are doing this treatment.

With the current world situation, more than ever, this treatment should be being offered to every lady suitable for receiving this treatment - to avoid the weeks of healing before having weeks of radiotherapy and to avoid un-necessary risks of covid.

I am always mentioning and singing the praise of this treatment, I want everyone to know this treatment is out there waiting for anyone that is suitable.  I know when I first found out about it I felt like I was disrespecting the department I was first with - once I was over this - I never looked back.  Don't get me wrong, I was well out of my comfort zone, I was looking into this on my own, I was being questioned all the time, I had not travelled on a train in 30 years, I had only been to London as a child - so I was scared, so scared was I doing right or wrong...  but.... I had to try this way - if all went well 'it' would all be over and done with in 'one day' .... everything about my treatment and experience was brilliant.  I am so, so glad I found out about this treatment and so fortunate that I was able to have this treatment...... it was less upsetting than going to the dentist.

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/nhs-services-and-treatments/can-i-choose-where-to-receive-treatment/

This tells you more about the treatment.....
https://www.targit.org.uk/intrabeam-targit-iort-information

Article NHS breast cancer patients to benefit from go ahead for UCL pioneered treatment.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2018/feb/nhs-breast-cancer-patients-benefit-go-ahead-ucl-pioneered-treatment

Part of my experience....
https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/chat-breast-cancer/f/breast-cancer-forum/143626/lumpectomy-radiotherapy-one-day-combined-operation-targit-iort-intraoperative-radiotherapy-treatment/1098307#1098307

Another post....
https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/chat-breast-cancer/f/questions-about-diagnosis-and-treatment/160159/lumpectomy-with-combined-radiotherapy-given-limited-approval-targit-iort-intra-operative-radiotherapy-yahhy/1318405#1318405

If I can help further just let me know.  

Much love xxx

#Targit   #TargitIORT   #IORT

I've just seen this Loffie, some how this post missed me.... mind you with how this website is of late I'm not surprised.  

I had my treatment under the same Medical Team - absolutely amazing, I really am and always will be eternally grateful to them, I truly will

Thanks for your insights and information, really helpful.