I am 48 years old and I am married with two teenage daughters. I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004: it was a 3.5 cm tumour in my left breast. My tumour was removed as well as my lymph nodes, and I received radiotherapy to the breast. My follow-up treatment was a chemically induced menopause and Tamoxifen.
I did very well for four and a half years, then I began experiencing pain in my left armpit and down my arm. Over a period of 8 months, I attended the GP 5 times as well as the breast surgeon and oncologist, before I was eventually diagnosed with an inoperable reoccurrence in my axilla. Unfortunately, it was unlikely to be amenable to conventional radiotherapy due to my previous treatment and I was told that my only option was hormone therapy to attempt to shrink the tumour, then maybe they would consider radiotherapy. When I was diagnosed my tumour was 3 cm and had grown into my chest wall and in between my ribs, however, there was no evidence of distant metastases.
I carried out a lengthy internet search and contacted several CyberKnife centres in Europe and the US. The European centres would not consider my case, as there was insufficient evidence to support the use of CyberKnife with breast cancer, and the US clinics were mostly happy to view my records but admitted they had no experience in treating BC. I then decided to scour the net for anyone who had used CyberKnife to treat BC. That is when I came across Dr McLaughlin: he had successfully treated 5 women for inoperable reoccurrence, and at that time all were alive and disease-free. I contacted Wellstar in Atlanta, spoke to the CyberKnife coordinator and thankfully they agreed to review my records.
Unfortunately, my oncologist did not support my decision and declined any NHS funding. She also refused to make the referral, so I had to apply to two different health authorities for access to my clinical records.
I posted them to Atlanta and following a review of my CT images they decided to offer me treatment. We were thrilled, but sadly the cost was to be over $100,000.00, and there was no way we could find that kind of money. Madge, the CyberKnife coordinator at Wellstar told me she would apply for some financial support so long as I submitted my financial details, which I did. We waited anxiously for a couple of weeks while she worked away behind the scenes, and finally, she came back with a very achievable quote — less than the cost of a new car! I am eternally grateful to her because she worked very hard for me to be able to afford treatment.
In July 2009 my husband, youngest daughter and I set off for Atlanta. Unfortunately, due to my being a bit flaky prior to the trip, I had forgotten to order a bankers draft to pay for treatment, so we had to take the money in cash dollars, which my husband had stashed in a money belt! They had a chuckle when I arrived and handed overpayment in cash.
We were there for 2 ½ weeks; initially, I was given an HDCT scan, which is 1mm slices from the top of my head to my abdomen — this was necessary to plan treatment. Then, my fiducials were implanted: three little gold pins embedded into the tumour, and this was done under CT guidance and sedation. It was relatively painless and took about ¾ of an hour.
Then my treatments commenced. I had 5 treatments around 1 ¾ hours each. The staff were fantastic: they were friendly, considerate and nothing was too much trouble. I was put at ease and this helped a lot. Dr McLaughlin saw me every day and kept me fully informed. He was wonderful: he was never rushed, happy to answer any questions, didn’t talk down to me, and explained everything thoroughly.
The treatments were a piece of cake! I chose to be seen first thing, so 8.30 am each morning I had my treatment, settled in, laid back, listened to the music and chilled; I think I was just so elated and relieved to be there, it was the best I had felt in months.
In the afternoons we holidayed, we shopped, went to theme parks, all the usual tourist spots: Zoo Aquarium, Coke museum, etc., and at night we ate out or went to the cinema. There was one day after the 3rd session I was tired and laid in bed till 2pm. Otherwise, I was cooking on gas!
My skin reddened slightly on my shoulder after the last treatment, when we were in the water park. I think it was the combination of CyberKnife and sun, but it cleared up after a day or so. Then, we flew home, and I have never looked back. It is the best thing I have ever done!
The doctors over here still insist that my remission will not last, but 2 years on and I feel great. I feel as well as ever. I do get pain in my shoulder and I have lost some range of movement, which I was told to expect, but otherwise, I feel fit as a fiddle and lead a full and normal life! I feel I have been given a second chance when the NHS had all but given up on me. My UK oncologist told me on my return that I would never have been amenable to conventional radiotherapy (in her opinion) but I wish they had told me that sooner.
My care plan was to take hormone tablets until they fail, then chemo until that fails then farewell, but so far my tumour is perfectly stable (it shrank for the first year then stayed exactly the same) I remain on the hormone tablets with no distant mets and so whatever happens from here on in I have had at least 2 good years, in great health thanks to CyberKnife. It gave me hope and a sense of control over my disease which I didn’t have prior to treatment.