1. < Melanoma & Skin Cancer

Has anyone had brachytherapy for skin cancer?

Posted by drhill @drhill, Mar 28 5:26pm

Has anyone had brachytherapy for skin cancer? I had Mohs on forehead for desmoplastic squamous that needs to be followed up with radiation. Hoping it’s not too destructive.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 1 10:54am

@drhill, I'm tagging @eagleswings @jlstaloch and @sszantay, who have experience with brachytherapy, albeit for choroid melanoma.

My unerstanding is that brachytherapy can be an effective treatment for certain types of skin cancer, particularly basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas on the head and neck.

If I remember correctly from your other posts, the lesion is on your forehead. So, I get it that you're concerned about the damage it might do. This type of radiation travels only a short distance, so not much of it reaches nearby normal tissues with minimal side effects. It can avoid the need for reconstructive surgery.

When are you scheduled for treatment?

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2 replies
sszantay | @sszantay | Apr 1 1:45pm

Hello, I wish I could help with some personal advice. My brachytherapy radiation “pellets” were placed in my eye. It was done almost 2 years ago and I haven’t noticed any visible lingering side effects. Unfortunately I have started to see changes in my eye sight but I was told to expect residual effects. If it was me, I would keep asking questions & trying to find specific cases to help make things clearer. I wish you well. 🙏

REPLY
drhill | @drhill | Apr 1 4:15pm
In reply to @colleenyoung "@drhill, I'm tagging @eagleswings @jlstaloch and @sszantay, who have experience with brachytherapy, albeit for choroid melanoma...." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@drhill, I'm tagging @eagleswings @jlstaloch and @sszantay, who have experience with brachytherapy, albeit for choroid melanoma.

My unerstanding is that brachytherapy can be an effective treatment for certain types of skin cancer, particularly basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas on the head and neck.

If I remember correctly from your other posts, the lesion is on your forehead. So, I get it that you're concerned about the damage it might do. This type of radiation travels only a short distance, so not much of it reaches nearby normal tissues with minimal side effects. It can avoid the need for reconstructive surgery.

When are you scheduled for treatment?

Jump to this post

Thank you and I hope you are able to get more help for your eye. Perhaps the radiation has also affected the tear ducts and moisture in your eye which can affect vision.
Even scarring could occur.

REPLY
drhill | @drhill | Apr 1 6:06pm
In reply to @colleenyoung "@drhill, I'm tagging @eagleswings @jlstaloch and @sszantay, who have experience with brachytherapy, albeit for choroid melanoma...." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@drhill, I'm tagging @eagleswings @jlstaloch and @sszantay, who have experience with brachytherapy, albeit for choroid melanoma.

My unerstanding is that brachytherapy can be an effective treatment for certain types of skin cancer, particularly basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas on the head and neck.

If I remember correctly from your other posts, the lesion is on your forehead. So, I get it that you're concerned about the damage it might do. This type of radiation travels only a short distance, so not much of it reaches nearby normal tissues with minimal side effects. It can avoid the need for reconstructive surgery.

When are you scheduled for treatment?

Jump to this post

I don’t know unfortunately. I went to UCLA last week and they said that they felt I was a good candidate for brachytherapy, but would need a CT scan of my head to start planning.
Then the ball was dropped and I’ve waited over a week and heard nothing back from them.
I am following up more today and might get another opinion as well for brachytherapy.

REPLY
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