Focused Ultrasound Surgery for Dahlya
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Help send Dahlya to Frankfurt for
MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery
Message from Dahlya:
For many years during my menstrual cycle, I have spent 3-5 days (out of every 23-day cycle) in bed with severe hemorrhaging causing acute anemia, uncontrolled vomiting to the point of dehydration, and excruciating pain. This condition prevents me from living a full and active life with family and friends, from working more than part time in my profession as a psychotherapist, and from moving to New York to live with James. It has also come at tremendous personal costs in terms of lost income, as well as ongoing medical expenses to manage this illness.
Over the past decade, numerous gynecologists and specialists have been unable to correctly diagnose the problem or help with alleviating the symptoms, but I am relieved to report that through MRI imaging I have finally received a correct diagnosis of severe adenomyosis, a condition where the endometrium lining infiltrates the uterine wall. The MRI also revealed two medium-sized fibroids.
Treatment Overview
Hormone treatments I’ve tried have come with significant side effects, and due to the severity of my monthly symptoms and my medical history, a hysterectomy comes with a high risk of complications. However, a more recent treatment option, known as MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS), is an FDA-approved (incision-less) out-patient surgery known to reduce symptoms of adenomyosis and fibroids by 50 to 80 percent with no serious adverse effects. Here’s how it works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odnjp4cxHdk
https://radiology.ucsf.edu/patient-care/sections/ir/MRgFUS/treatment
My gynecologist, Dr. Adam Garber (Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Ottawa) will be providing pre- and post-procedure care. He is excited for me to be able to pursue this treatment, which is at the forefront of medical advancements.
Adenomyosis treatment is not available in Canada
In early 2015, a review by Health Quality Ontario (HQO) led to a recommendation by the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee, which determined MRgFUS “offers significant improvement in fibroid symptoms and rapid post-procedure recovery for women, with a rare occurrence of complications and a low risk of needing further treatments.” HQO has recommended “the widespread use of focused ultrasound surgery for the non-invasive treatment of uterine fibroids,” and, although Sunnybrook Women’s College Hospital in Toronto has an MRI Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery Centre, where research is ongoing, this technology is not yet available in Canada for treatment of gynecological issues.
MRgFUS, also known as High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) surgery, is widely used throughout the USA, Europe and Israel for treatment of fibroids (as well as prostate conditions, and kidney stones) and is branching out into areas such as treating Parkinson’s and brain tumours. but only a handful of clinics in the world currently use it for adenomyosis (with or without fibroids).
The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota is North America’s top-rated hospital for treating adenomyosis with HIFU. However, the costs there (and at other US clinics) are exorbitant. The HIFU radiologist at the Mayo Clinic recommended treatment in Germany where the procedure is of equal quality at half the cost.
Prof. Dr. Markus Düx, chief physician of the Central Institute of Radiology and Neuroradiology at the Hospital Northwest in Frankfurt has personally reviewed my MRI results and approved me for treatment at his hospital-affiliated clinic https://www.mrgfus-zentrum-frankfurt.de/. The surgery will be scheduled with Dr. Düx for this fall, using the latest version of the award-winning Ex-Ablate HIFU technology, developed by the Israeli company Insightec, who created the first MRgFUS machine back in 2001.
Costs (US dollars)
$ 7,500 MRI Guided Focused Ultrasound surgery
$ 2,000 Roundtrip airfare for two (Dahlya and support person)
$ 2,500 Hotel/meals for two in Frankfurt (10 days)
$ 12,000 TOTAL (US dollars)
I am so grateful for the support that has been offered by family and friends. I hope and expect that this treatment will allow me to fulfill my dreams of a more normal life that will include building my psychotherapy practice, and moving to NYC to finally marry and live with James. We envision a full life together! If you’d like to support us whether or not you’re able to donate, small things like clicking ‘like’ on this post or sharing it, are great ways to help spread the word that’s welcome whether or not you’re in a position to chip in! We’re really genuinely happy with people putting in five, or twenty five, every small and large contribution we’re grateful for. Moral support, likes and shares, prayers, and caring thoughts for healing are also really wonderful and appreciated.
With love and gratitude,
Dahlya
Thank You!
MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery
Message from Dahlya:
For many years during my menstrual cycle, I have spent 3-5 days (out of every 23-day cycle) in bed with severe hemorrhaging causing acute anemia, uncontrolled vomiting to the point of dehydration, and excruciating pain. This condition prevents me from living a full and active life with family and friends, from working more than part time in my profession as a psychotherapist, and from moving to New York to live with James. It has also come at tremendous personal costs in terms of lost income, as well as ongoing medical expenses to manage this illness.
Over the past decade, numerous gynecologists and specialists have been unable to correctly diagnose the problem or help with alleviating the symptoms, but I am relieved to report that through MRI imaging I have finally received a correct diagnosis of severe adenomyosis, a condition where the endometrium lining infiltrates the uterine wall. The MRI also revealed two medium-sized fibroids.
Treatment Overview
Hormone treatments I’ve tried have come with significant side effects, and due to the severity of my monthly symptoms and my medical history, a hysterectomy comes with a high risk of complications. However, a more recent treatment option, known as MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS), is an FDA-approved (incision-less) out-patient surgery known to reduce symptoms of adenomyosis and fibroids by 50 to 80 percent with no serious adverse effects. Here’s how it works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odnjp4cxHdk
https://radiology.ucsf.edu/patient-care/sections/ir/MRgFUS/treatment
My gynecologist, Dr. Adam Garber (Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Ottawa) will be providing pre- and post-procedure care. He is excited for me to be able to pursue this treatment, which is at the forefront of medical advancements.
Adenomyosis treatment is not available in Canada
In early 2015, a review by Health Quality Ontario (HQO) led to a recommendation by the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee, which determined MRgFUS “offers significant improvement in fibroid symptoms and rapid post-procedure recovery for women, with a rare occurrence of complications and a low risk of needing further treatments.” HQO has recommended “the widespread use of focused ultrasound surgery for the non-invasive treatment of uterine fibroids,” and, although Sunnybrook Women’s College Hospital in Toronto has an MRI Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery Centre, where research is ongoing, this technology is not yet available in Canada for treatment of gynecological issues.
MRgFUS, also known as High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) surgery, is widely used throughout the USA, Europe and Israel for treatment of fibroids (as well as prostate conditions, and kidney stones) and is branching out into areas such as treating Parkinson’s and brain tumours. but only a handful of clinics in the world currently use it for adenomyosis (with or without fibroids).
The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota is North America’s top-rated hospital for treating adenomyosis with HIFU. However, the costs there (and at other US clinics) are exorbitant. The HIFU radiologist at the Mayo Clinic recommended treatment in Germany where the procedure is of equal quality at half the cost.
Prof. Dr. Markus Düx, chief physician of the Central Institute of Radiology and Neuroradiology at the Hospital Northwest in Frankfurt has personally reviewed my MRI results and approved me for treatment at his hospital-affiliated clinic https://www.mrgfus-zentrum-frankfurt.de/. The surgery will be scheduled with Dr. Düx for this fall, using the latest version of the award-winning Ex-Ablate HIFU technology, developed by the Israeli company Insightec, who created the first MRgFUS machine back in 2001.
Costs (US dollars)
$ 7,500 MRI Guided Focused Ultrasound surgery
$ 2,000 Roundtrip airfare for two (Dahlya and support person)
$ 2,500 Hotel/meals for two in Frankfurt (10 days)
$ 12,000 TOTAL (US dollars)
I am so grateful for the support that has been offered by family and friends. I hope and expect that this treatment will allow me to fulfill my dreams of a more normal life that will include building my psychotherapy practice, and moving to NYC to finally marry and live with James. We envision a full life together! If you’d like to support us whether or not you’re able to donate, small things like clicking ‘like’ on this post or sharing it, are great ways to help spread the word that’s welcome whether or not you’re in a position to chip in! We’re really genuinely happy with people putting in five, or twenty five, every small and large contribution we’re grateful for. Moral support, likes and shares, prayers, and caring thoughts for healing are also really wonderful and appreciated.
With love and gratitude,
Dahlya
Thank You!
Organizer
James Noyes
Organizer
New York, NY