MR Linac

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User

Posted 02 Sep 2025 at 18:09

Hello everyone and thank you for reading my conversation, I would welcome any comments:

I am a 57 years old with a Gleason score of 3+3 (10%4), I was diagnosed 2 years ago and have now been advised to seek treatment as the cancer has started to grow.

Would anyone have any experience of MR Linac that they could advise from personal experience Im finding little on line and would be grateful of your comments, thank you

User

Posted 02 Sep 2025 at 21:52

Hi,

I have had the 5 day version of RT.

I had a starting PSA of 17, and a T2b/c diagnosis. I had opted for RT as the primary treatment. ( The uncertainty around the T2b/c edge conditions was one- but not the only- factor in choosing RT). It would have been the standard 20 day job, but the local radio team was unable to get a consistently clean shot at the target, so I switched (privately) to the Top Gun, 5 day, MRI guided machine.

The treatment was a breeze. There were only a couple of days afterwards when I didn't stray too far from a loo . But that was it. The advantages are those you would expect: significantly shorter treatment, and the prospect of a more accurate hit.

Has it worked? All you can ever say is : so far so good. I am just over 3 years post treatment, with a still negligible PSA, so it's : so far so good. Would I do it again? Yes.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do

User

Posted 03 Sep 2025 at 17:20

Thank you Ole

Would you say the side effects were minimal and it was water retention that was an issue for a short while, I really am undecided on the treatment to take this or removal, but your reply has helped as there doesn't seem to be a lot of feedback out there on this treatment.

User

Posted 03 Sep 2025 at 21:32

Hi Chris,

Not sure what you mean by MR Linac. There is an advanced system as shown in this link but I don't think it has been introduced in the UK yet, but stand to be corrected. https://www.philips.co.uk/healthcare/product/HC781439/ingenia-ambitionelition-mr-rt

Normally, MR or MRI employs magnetically produced images whereas Linacs, (Linac accelerators), separately deliver radiation. There are several types but they all come under 'Photon Beam'. The number of sessions (called fractions) can vary from the more recently introduced 5, to the more usual 20 or old 37 fraction standard still sometimes used. This covers the most common number of fractions with higher dose for fewer fractions. Hormone Treatment also most usually is part of RT treatments. So you need to ascertain how many fractions you will be offered and whether this will be accompanied by HT and if so for what period. (Long term analysis of the 5 fraction version is lacking as it has not been used for long enough. Arguably, it is HT more than RT that results in most severe side effects but that can vary in type and intensity depending on the individual.

Edited by member 03 Sep 2025 at 21:33 | Reason: to highlight link

Barry

User

Posted 04 Sep 2025 at 20:48

Hi Chris,

my only real side effects from the RT were a bit of bowel looseness for 2/3 days after treatment finished. No radiation burn, no tiredness, no urine retention. My side effects came from the hormone treatment which preceded the RT : some body hair loss, hot flushes at night, loss of muscle tone . But even then I had it better than some on here who had more severe reactions.

My machine was indeed a combined scanner and accelerator, so the RT was monitored in real time ( and on one occasion was paused while I had to chase out a gas bubble which was distorting things). It was the weapon of choice as the local machine could not cope sufficiently accurately with some errant bowel plumbing

For what it is worth, my feeling is that the primary choice is between RT and surgery *, since this is where the major differences in side effects lie, and the choice between 20 and 5 fractions is a secondary issue.

* assuming other options such as brachy or focal treatment aren't relevant).

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