SABR for lung cancer

Hi, I had SABR for lung cancer treatment last year.  The cancer was stage 1 upper left lung, but not too close to the heart.  I was ok for surgery but refused it, I had researched SABR and discovered through a very long detailed chat with the consultant oncologist that it is just as effective as surgery with a 95% success rate, he said, and I quote; "it kills nine out of ten cancers".  Personally, I wasn't not prepared to have a complete upper lobe removal for a size 2.5cm lesion on the periphery of my lung with all the surgical risks involved.

I began treatment on the 21st November 2023, the first being the planning scan and marking up with CT scan and tattooing, following that I began the treatment on the 28th November 2023, every other day for two and a half weeks.  I had my last treatment on the 15th December 2023.  I was fine, just tired at first, as the sessions went on I experienced a bit of a harsh dry cough, I was a bit off my food and the fatigue increased, also solid food hurt a bit when swallowing, but I was told this is a possibility as the lesion was close to the oesophagus.  The physical symptoms only lasted a couple of weeks and after treatment finished it took about 3-4 weeks before I got some of my energy back and I was back out walking, albeit at a bit slower pace.  I am now four month's on and 100% back physically to my old self, out walking, and shopping etc. I can walk at my usual quick pace without getting puffed out.

I hope my experience of SABR for lung cancer helps.  If you have any more questions please ask away.  The good news is that your husband was offered SABR, this means that his lung cancer was early stage and curable.  SABR is not offered unfortunately for people with cancer 3cm and above.

Best wishes to your husband and yourself.

Thank you Sanguinesse ( I believe that is the name of the red wine my husband likes ! )

your reply has given us comfort and confidence that this will have a positive outcome, hopefully we may be able to get away for a holiday if we can get some holiday insurance ! 
thank you for taking time to reply .

Hi, I believe the red wine your husband likes is called Sangria, a Spanish red wine.

My username Sanguinesse is an adjective meaning feeling optimistic, cheerful and confident, the synonym meaning is the optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out well...that is why I chose it, albeit I have added an 'e' at the end.

Yes, the radiologists will approach with caution if the lesion is near the heart, that's where SABR is chosen as it targets the lesion itself and avoids surrounding healthy tissue and vital organs. The conventional direct beam radiotherapy has a wider range unfortunately and can affect healthy tissue. 

I had the conventional direct beam radiotherapy 33 year's ago when I had breast cancer on the right side, I had the treatment every day for six weeks with a break at weekends, so about 30 sessions in all. Unfortunately this has led to fibrosis in my right lung, but not to a dangerous degree....the fibrosis is stable and has not changed at all in all those years.  Thankfully SABR by and large avoids fibrosis, although it can happen to a degree.  The hospital who is treating your husband should have supplied you with a leaflet or booklet on SABR, if not ask for one, the cancer nurse specialists will help with this.

After your husband's treatment has finished the SABR carries on working for up to a month in the affected area, he will then have a follow up CT scan roughly three months after the treatment finishes to see how the radiotherapy is working, then an outpatient appointment with the oncologist 10-14 days later to discuss the results of the CT scan.  Regarding your holiday insurance, I'm not sure about that as I haven't needed it yet.

Anyway, I hope you can squeeze in a holiday around everything, and I wish your husband a speedy recovery, it takes time, but he will get there.  Best wishes.

Thank you once again sanguinesse, my mistake on your name , the wine is an Italian and called Sangiovese !
We did get quite a bit of information of the macmillan nurse but that was for a lobectomy which had to be abandoned after his reaction to the anaesthetic, he then had to see a cardiologist then to see a different consultant who offered him the SABR treatment , his macmillan nurse is a lovely lady and told him to contact her if he had any questions or concerns .

He did get a leaflet about the SABR treatment from the department he is attending they also explained the follow up , I think perhaps it was us that did not take it all in at the time as we were still getting over the shock of the abandoned surgery . He has another treatment tomorrow followed by a review and at the moment he seems to be tolerating it quite well.

Thank you for sharing your experience and wish you well .

Hi

I also have completed SABR radiotherapy. Right from the start of my diagnosis there was a note that on the right lung there was an area that would be monitored. After being recommended for a lobectomy for the left lung the initial plan was for radiotherapy to the right lung. Analysis of glands removed during surgery led to a change of plan for chemo. At the end of chemo was a CT followed by PET scan. Then a crushing review where I was now being offered surgery again to remove part of the right lung.  Like Sanguinesse I was questioning about the need for this. The size of the area had not changed at all from the time of my first CT scan in April 23. It was now December 23. I met with a lung specialist who had been part of a multidisciplinary team meeting which included my original surgeon and i was informed he would happily remove the section of the lung without a biopsy. I was also offered a biopsy which could cause a collapsed lung, would be difficult due to the position of the area close to my spine, and might not be diagnositic. I was also offered SABR radiotherapy. I met with the Consultant radiotherapist who agreed to put me forward for this. 

I should add I was invited to Disney Land Floriday with my daughter and her family. My consultant agreed to timetable the radiotherapy immediately aware of the fact that a position of "waiting on treatment" would collapse my hopes of getting travel insurance. The team were amazing and even breakdowns of equipment did not interfere with the timetable.  I had 8 sessions in total and am still quite breathless. But on a flat can walk OK for a fair amount of distance. On a hill I have to stop! I have a telephone review at the end of the month and am guessing this will be followed up by another scan at some point. I am hopeful nothing has changed. Not sure if this lengthy answer helps. We are all unique and at different points in our journey. But that is me and at least one other person who has survived this treatment!.

All the very best and I hope your husband is well. Sarah. PS Hidden in there is the fact I got insurance to travel to Florida for under £300. 

Hi, I have recently had my first follow up CT scan following my SABR treatment three months after treatment on the 18 March.  I then had a follow up appointment on the 2 April with the Oncologist for the results.  To quote my Oncologist; "everything looks hunky dory" and that the lesion has shrunk almost 50%.  He said this was very reassuring because the cancer cells are dying off quickly.  He also explained that cancer cells treated with SABR can take up to six months or longer to die off completely and that SABR is a long process.  He also said I had scar tissue in the area of treatment, this is entirely normal and will resolve with time.  

The Oncologist said they never use the word "cured", but because the cells are so obviously dying off, he said I was going into "remission".  I don't need to be followed up again for another six months, second CT scan will be mid-September.  I have to admit, I came out of the hospital with a spring in my step, just with the reassurance that I was on the road to recovery and knowing that I had made the right choice in my treatment of SABR over surgery.

I just wanted to wish you all the very best and I hope you have a lovely holiday in Florida with your family.  

Ann 

I'll take "hunky dory". Great news.

So pleased for you both, my husband finished his treatment on Thursday, unfortunately because of the closeness of the tumour to his heart  the team decided  that it was too risky to do the 8 fractions of SABR that they initially had said, we believed he was still getting SABR but over a longer period, instead he had 15 of as what we understand a weaker version, the radiologist said the  outcome should still be the  same result as the SABR so fingers crossed once again ! As seems to be the normal procedure he will have a phone consultation in 6 weeks followed by a scan at 3 months. He has tolerated the treatment quite well experiencing just a little fatigue.
Regarding travel insurance the radiologist said if you wait till after the 6 week phone consultation the travel insurance is usually a bit cheaper,  l note sjj1960 quoted £300 for Florida, that sounds very reasonable so who knows we still may get away !

Best wishes to everyone