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2023-06-08T00:00:00.000+08:00

Sylvia's story - MRIdian radiotherapy for difficult to treat lung metastasis

Sylvia's story - MRIdian radiotherapy for difficult to treat lung metastasis

After 6 recurrences of breast cancer, 2 of which spreading to her lung, Sylvia’s new tumour needed truly extraordinary treatment. 

After 6 recurrences of breast cancer, 2 of which spreading to her lung, Sylvia’s new tumour needed truly extraordinary treatment. 

In October 2022, having been treated for breast cancer 6 times over 12 years, with breast tumours twice spreading to her lungs, Sylvia scarily began coughing up clotted blood and further diagnostics confirmed the cancer in her lung had returned.

The new tumour was in the hilum area of Sylvia’s right lung, right at the point where the bronchi, pulmonary arteries, veins, lymphatic vessels, and nerves enter the lung. This made the tumour extremely difficult to reach and Sylvia was facing a complex, high-risk operation.

Sylvia explains “My case was discussed at a hospital Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting, where Dr Crispin Hiley, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at GenesisCare, put forward the option of advanced radiotherapy treatment on the MRIdian MR Linac which is exclusively available in London at GenesisCare in Cromwell Hospital, as a safe alternative to surgery. I said yes to this straight away and was totally amazed to stop coughing up blood after just 3 sessions, and my treatment was completed in just 8 sessions over 3 weeks!”

Sylvia continues “I’ve had all the treatments over the years, chemotherapy, standard radiotherapy, surgery - and I can’t recommend the MRIdian MR Linac enough for difficult to reach tumours. It was quite a unique experience; I was in awe of this phenomenal technology. I’ve had private medical insurance for many years and have been so fortunate to have a good team behind me. I do believe accessing the best treatment throughout my cancer journey is why I'm alive today. 

I didn’t know the MRIdian MR Linac existed, and I just hope by sharing my story, someone in need may become aware of this treatment option.

MRIdian MR Linac at GenesisCare

The MRIdian is available at our centres in Oxford and Cromwell Hospital in London. Find out more about the MRIdian MR linac, including how it works and who it’s for.

Sylvia’s Consultant Clinical Oncologist Dr Crispin Hiley commented “It was a pleasure to meet Sylvia and help her when she needed it. She has had a great team of surgeons and medical oncologists looking after her for many years. The MRIdian MR Linac was just the right tool in this situation to maximise the chances of controlling her cancer whilst giving the safest possible treatment. I am really pleased that the treatment has worked well for Sylvia”.

Of her experience, Sylvia told us "The GenesisCare centre had such a calming atmosphere, the staff and environment were amazing – it was a special place. It’s now 3 weeks since my treatment ended, I still have a slight cough, however nothing like it was, which has given me renewed hope for the future. My husband and I are in the middle of renovating our house and getting ready for his retirement next year. I have a lot of life to live, I’ve done the hard work and now it’s time to enjoy a bit of pleasure”.

MRIdian radiotherapy

The MRIdian MR Linac is a next generation radiotherapy machine used to treat many different types of tumours – often complex and difficult-to-treat cancers near other major organs, or in organs that move a lot, such as the lung. It uses a combination of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning and extremely powerful radiotherapy beams to treat tumours more accurately than conventional radiotherapy. Unlike other MR Linacs, the MRIdian uses live imaging and automated beam control. So, when the tumour being treated moves slightly out of position- through actions such as breathing, the radiation beam will automatically stop, and surrounding healthy organs aren’t affected by unnecessary radiation, leading to fewer side effects.