Anyone have Aliya (PEF) treatment for lung cancer? How did it go?

@ladylennie
I had the Aliya on one nodule (there are several) at the same time as the biopsy, April 23, 2026. I'm 78 and they didn't want to put me under twice. The biopsy was inconclusive, atypical cells, possibly cancer. There had been an increase in size from November to March, from .9 cm to 1.8 cm. I had a CT scan on 5/15. There was some reduction in size, maybe 30%, but it was too early to say. The neighboring nodule, untreated, also had a similar reduction. CT was supposed to be 3 months later, but mis-communication between hospital where I get my imaging done, and pulmonologist. I travel to San Francisco for treatment, 130 miles away. The plan is to have another CT scan done in 3 months. I have experienced some shortness of breath, but am also on Immunotheraoy, Nivolmab, which I have been on for 3 years. I'm also 6 months post surgery for pancreatic cancer.
Bottom line, right now, I feel ok. I'm concerned about the breathing issue, but the procedure was done as an outpatient and was easy on me. Still checking and following up on shortness of breath issue. I hope that your procedure goes well. I will post what I learn if anything changess and post 3 mo. CT.

The nodule was suspicious for malignancy so it was ablated. Full pathology next week. The procedure went well.

@ladylennie
I had the Aliya on one nodule (there are several) at the same time as the biopsy, April 23, 2026. I'm 78 and they didn't want to put me under twice. The biopsy was inconclusive, atypical cells, possibly cancer. There had been an increase in size from November to March, from .9 cm to 1.8 cm. I had a CT scan on 5/15. There was some reduction in size, maybe 30%, but it was too early to say. The neighboring nodule, untreated, also had a similar reduction. CT was supposed to be 3 months later, but mis-communication between hospital where I get my imaging done, and pulmonologist. I travel to San Francisco for treatment, 130 miles away. The plan is to have another CT scan done in 3 months. I have experienced some shortness of breath, but am also on Immunotheraoy, Nivolmab, which I have been on for 3 years. I'm also 6 months post surgery for pancreatic cancer.
Bottom line, right now, I feel ok. I'm concerned about the breathing issue, but the procedure was done as an outpatient and was easy on me. Still checking and following up on shortness of breath issue. I hope that your procedure goes well. I will post what I learn if anything changess and post 3 mo. CT.

@kakalena

I am curious as to what hospital in the San Francisco area did your PEF (Aliya) ablation. I am dealing with a second round of lung cancer and due to having the unpleasant side effect of a chronic broken rib from SBRT radiation the first round, I think the PEF ablation will be best for me. Part of my care team agrees (except the radiation oncologist, LOL!) I've refused radiation so far as I just can't fathom how I would deal with more lifelong radiation side effects. I have a lot of chronic pain from the broken rib and it's really limited lots of things I can do.

Thanks for sharing your experience with this new treatment. I'm so happy to hear of its success for you!

BPB

@bpb
CPMC , California Pacific Medical Center. Dr. Heba Ismael. It was her first one but there were several other physicians present including one surgeon from UCFS ? who has done over 60. Dr. Ismael said she is doing 2 Aliyas a month now. I also had SBRT radiation for my pancreatic cancer at CPMC, Dr. Patricia Said. That worked very well for what was considered an inoperable tumor, but as a result of SBRT, I was able to have the Whipple surgery on pancreas.
The thing I liked about possible effects of Aliya is that the death of the treated nodule sends something out in your system that boosts your white blood cells' ability to fight same cancer in other locations. Here's hoping.

I had the aliya on june 29. It confirmed adenocarcinoma in my lower left lung. The oncologist and I think it possibly (probably) is a new primary but wont know until the molecular analysis is back in about a week.

Feeling good. I had no aftereffects from the procedure except my mormal post anethesia nausea for an hour. The hardest part now is determining if this was new or a recurrance. And also knowing that either way, it appears that all my iraes from keytruda weren't worth it since it clearly didn't work.