Subscribe to this Blog
Elekta Word Cloud

Cancer has been playing hide-and-seek with Patsy Lofton for 17 years, traveling from her breast to her lung, spine and brain.

Over the years she’s tried many treatments, some more successful than others. Now, she’s hoping a recent Gamma Knife radiosurgery procedure at M. D. Anderson will help slow the growth of the cancer in her brain.

Patsy Lofton

Patsy Lofton

Breast cancer began the saga in 1992, Lofton, who lives in central Mississippi, was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy (surgical removal of the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue), radiation and chemotherapy and felt lucky she had caught the cancer before it spread.

But three years later, she began to have a pain in her back, just under her shoulder blade.

“I had a feeling the cancer was back,” Lofton says. “But after you’ve had cancer, you think every little pain is cancer.”

Read the entire article here: MDAnderson.org

Did you like this? Share it:

Comments are closed.

  • Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion Advanced Program for Stereotactic Radiosurgery September 8, 2015
      Objective To further enhance the participant’s knowledge of Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion and its advanced applications in the field of stereotactic radiosurgery. Specific focus will be placed on Gamma Knife surgery with or without the Extend System for several different indications. Patient selection, radiosurgical techniques and complication avoidance as […]
  • Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion - Upgrade Program December 10, 2013
    Objective To receive aspects of clinical and technical training for handling new features of Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion, when upgrading from previous models. Training on the dynamic workflow of Leksell GammaPlan includes instruction on using the pre-planning and follow-up features of the program as well as on developing treatment plans using composite sho […]
  • Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion - Introductory Program December 8, 2013
    Objective To identify the basic principles and biophysics of Gamma Knife surgery and how they apply to day-to-day patient treatment. Review the clinical indications, parameters of treatment and outcomes of Gamma Knife surgery. Recognize radiation safety issues and principles, as well as become familiar with emergency procedures that pertain to Leksell Gamma […]
  • Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion - Applications Introductory Program November 17, 2013
    Objective To make users confident in the operation, care and maintenance of Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion. The course focuses on radiation physics, dosimetry, stereotaxy for Gamma Knife surgery, quality assurance (QA), technical information and treatment planning using Leksell GammaPlan®.   Content ■      Principles of stereotaxy and radiosurgery ■      Prin […]
  • Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion / 4C - Introductory Program November 10, 2013
    Objective To obtain knowledge about the practical aspects of stereotactic radiosurgery using Leksell Gamma Knife. Principles of radiation physics and radiobiology, that apply to single-session, focused, small volume irradiation will be covered. Registrants should be able to create radiosurgery dose plans for various indications.   Content ■      Principles a […]
  • Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion Clinical Introductory Program October 6, 2013
    Objective To introduce clinicians to Gamma Knife® surgery with Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion and Extend™ System. The course focuses on clinical information, combined with hands-on sessions using Leksell GammaPlan®. Experts with years of experience from Gamma Knife surgery are selected to lecture on this course. Training center and duration 4-day course at Un […]
  • XiO - Application December 16, 2012
     OBJECTIVE To provide applications training in the use of XiO for treatment planning. The course provides an understanding of the software enabling the user to efficiently create effective treatment plans using our product. COURSE CONTENT Structure Contouring Digitized Contour-based Planning 2D Irregular Field Planning 3D External Beam Planning Special Plann […]
  • XiO IMRT December 9, 2012
    Objective To provide applications training in IMRT treatment planning utilizing the Xio Treatment Planning System. The course provides an understanding of the IMRT software enabling the user to efficiently create effective IMRT treatment plans using our product.   Course Content Contouring for IMRT Planning Beam Placement IMRT Prescription Optimization Segme […]
  • SRT December 9, 2012
    OBJECTIVE   This advanced clinical training program is designed to present the processes required to implement SRT for routine treatment on Elekta Axesse™ and other Elekta linear accelerators sterotactic capabilities.   COURSE CONTENT • Recognize indications for and outcomes of SRT/Radiosurgery • Understand dose selection, fractionation and planning techniqu […]
  • Monaco December 9, 2012
    OBJECTIVE  To provide applications training in advanced radiobiology-based IMRT treatment planning.  The course provides an understanding of the IMRT software enabling the user to efficiently create effective IMRT treatment plans using our product. COURSE CONTENT Contouring / Image Fusion for IMRT Planning Beam Template Creation The IMRT Prescription IMRT Co […]