Percutaneous cryoablation is a safe, effective, and durable method of palliative therapy for pain due to bone metastases
I underwent palliative therapy for my relapsed myeloma in the fall of 1996. At the time I understood that my oncologist had prescribed radiation to zap the lesions (multiple myeloma) in my lower back. I didn’t know what the word “palliative” meant. In fact, my bone pain subsided in weeks. I was able to lead a pretty normal life until my cancer came back.
Conventional cancer therapy is dominated by chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. The article linked below talks about relieving the pain of bone metastases- cancer that spreads beyond its original organ. While the term “palliative therapy” is avoided by many survivors and caregivers, it should not be confused with hospice or end-of-life care. My palliative therapy enabled me to research the non-conventional therapy that eventually cured my cancer.
I am both a myeloma survivor and MM cancer coach. Experience and research has taught me that cancer patients and survivors much think outside the conventional oncology box.
To learn more about managing bone metastases scroll down the page, post a question or comment and I will reply ASAP.
Thank you,
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Recommended Reading:
“BACKGROUND: This study sought to describe the results of a single-arm multicenter clinical trial using image-guided percutaneous cryoablation for the palliation of painful metastatic tumors involving bone…
RESULTS: A total of 69 treated tumors ranged in size from 1 to 11 cm. Prior to cryoablation, the mean score for worst pain in a 24-hour period was 7.1/10 with a range of 4/10 to 10/10. At 1, 4, 8, and 24 weeks after treatment, the mean score for worst pain in a 24-hour period decreased to 5.1/10 and 1.4/10 (P < .0001), respectively. One of 61 (2%) patients had a major complication with osteomyelitis at the site of ablation…
CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous cryoablation is a safe, effective, and durable method for palliation of pain due to metastatic disease involving bone.”
