A lifetime of specialist care

Lung tumourablation

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What is ablation? 3

When is ablation used? 3

What happens on the day of the procedure? 4

How is ablation carried out? 4

Will it be painful? 4

Should I keep taking my medicine? 5

What are the benefits of having ablation? 5

What are the risks of having ablation? 5

What happens when I go home? 6

Signs to look out for when you are back at home 6

Who can I contact for further information? 7

Contents

This leaflet gives you general information about your ablationtreatment. It does not replace the need for personal advicefrom a healthcare professional. Please ask us if you have anyquestions.

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Lung tumour ablation

Ablation is a lung cancertreatment that does notinvolve surgery. It uses eitherheat or extreme cold to destroycancer cells. The cancer cells dieand the treated area slowlyshrinks and becomes scar tissue.

Ablation has been availablesince the 1990s and has beensuccessfully used in Europeand America. It is now beingused increasingly in the UK.

There are three main methodsof ablation, all of which areavailable for patients of RoyalBrompton & Harefield NHSFoundation Trust. These are:

1. Cryo ablation: a probeproduces very lowtemperatures that freeze

the tissue and kill thecancer cells

2. Radiofrequency ablation:an electrode produces high-energy radio wavesthat kill the cancer cells

3. Microwave ablation: aprobe produces microwaves(heat) that kill the cancercells

Your doctor will choose thetype of ablation depending onthe exact type and location ofyour tumour.

Some patients need to havefurther treatment on the lung.For many patients ablation canbe repeated, if needed.

What is ablation?

Ablation can be used to treatprimary or secondary cancer inthe lung. Primary cancermeans the original cancer. Asecondary cancer means thatcancer cells have spread toanother part of the body andmade a new tumour there.

Ablation can be used alone asa treatment, or it can be usedtogether with othertreatments such as surgery,radiotherapy or chemotherapy.You and your hospital doctorcan discuss the best course oftreatment for you.

When is ablation used?

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It is important that you do noteat anything for six hoursbefore the procedure, but youmay drink water up to twohours before the procedure.

Before your treatment you willsee a doctor who will explainthe procedure to you. This is agood time to ask anyquestions. You will be asked tosign a form to say you agree(consent) to the treatment.

Ablation is carried out in theCT scanning department andnot in the operating theatre. Itis usually performed under ageneral anaesthetic, whichmeans that you will be asleep.You can have a localanaesthetic to numb the areaof your body that is to betreated, and medication tomake you drowsy instead. Youcan discuss the options withyour doctor.

What happens on the day of the procedure?

It is likely you will have some pain in the part of your bodywhere the treatment is being carried out. The doctor willprescribe painkillers for you to have after the procedure.

Will it be painful?

The probe is put into the middle of the tumour. This producesheat, or freezes, the tumour and destroys the cells. Theprocedure usually takes between one and three hours.

How is ablation carried out?

Ablation may be the righttreatment for you if:

• Surgery is not an option

• There are a small numberof secondary tumours inyour lungs

• The tumour is in an area ofthe body where it isdifficult to operate

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Lung tumour ablation

You should continue to take your medication as usual. However,if you take aspirin, warfarin or clopidogrel, we will let you knowwhen you should stop taking these.

Should I keep taking my medicine?

• Ablation does not involve a surgical operation• Side effects and complications from ablation are less

common and less serious than with surgery• The procedure can be repeated • You can go back to your normal activities within a few days

What are the benefits of having ablation?

• Pneumothorax (collapsedlung): This is caused by thebuild-up of air in the spacearound the lung. The risk ofhaving a collapsed lung islow and it is not usuallyserious. Our clinical staff canhelp the lung to expandquickly and easily byinserting a tube to drainaway the air from aroundthe lung. If this occurs youmay have to stay in hospitaland this may be forbetween two and four days.

• Infection: Any procedurewhere the skin is brokencarries a risk of an infection.After the treatment you willbe given antibiotics to

prevent infection. This isusually for up to seven days,but, on some occasions,patients need a longercourse of antibiotics.

• Haemoptysis (coughing upblood): Occasionallypatients cough up a smallamount of blood. This isnormal after an ablationtreatment. If this persists,or develops more than 24hours after treatment, youshould contact the hospitalfor further advice.

Your doctor will discuss anyspecific risks that apply to you.Please ask your doctor aboutanything that concerns you.

What are the risks of having ablation?

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Normally, you will be able to go home the day after yourprocedure. Before you go home we will discuss your follow-uptreatment with you. It is likely you will be off work for oneweek after your treatment.

What happens when I go home?

• Shortness of breath and painon inhaling (breathing in)

• Pain that is not controlledby regular pain killers – forexample, paracetamol

• A raised temperature orpain one to two weeksafter the treatment

If you have any of thesesymptoms, please contact thehospital. During normalworking hours, speak to yourclinical nurse specialist.Evenings, weekends or bankholidays, please contact theward where you wereadmitted.

Signs to look out for when you are back athome

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Lung tumour ablation

If you have concerns about any aspect of the service you havereceived in hospital and feel unable to talk to those peopleresponsible for your care, call PALS on 020 7349 7715 or e-mailpals@rbht.nhs.uk. This is a confidential service.

If you have any questions or would like to talk to one of ourteam, please contact:

Harefield HospitalLung clinical nurse specialist

01895 823 737, extension 5989

Dr Paras DalalConsultant cardiothoracic radiologist

Tel: 01895 828 609

Royal Brompton Hospital Lung clinical nurse specialist

020 7352 8121, extension 4134

Dr Simon PadleyConsultant radiologist

Tel: 020 7352 8121, extension 2943

Who can I contact for more information?

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Royal Brompton HospitalSydney StreetLondonSW3 6NPtel: 020 7352 8121textphone: (18001) 020 7352 8121

Harefield HospitalHill End RoadHarefieldMiddlesexUB9 6JHtel: 01895 823 737textphone: (18001) 01895 823 737

Website: www.rbht.nhs.uk

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© Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust July 2014

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