Minimally invasive spine procedure provides cancer pain relief

Robert Burton’s cancer journey started in 2014 at Central Care Cancer Center, Bolivar when board certified oncologist Leo Shunyakov, M.D., known as “Dr. Leo” to his patients, diagnosed him with stage 4 renal cell carcinoma, a common type of kidney cancer.

“I thought I just had kidney stones,” Burton remembers. “But, my symptoms just got worse so I drove from Osceola to the CMH emergency room where I had a CT scan and Dr. Leo shared that I had a mass.” Burton says he was so worried and still recalls Dr. Shunyakov saying, “We’re going to save you and you’re going to be around for a long time.”

Further scans showed that Burton’s cancer had spread throughout his body, including his bones. Dr. Shunyakov sent him to the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, where he received several weeks of intense treatments. After KU, Burton continued his oncology care in Bolivar for radiation therapy and infusions.

A few years ago, Burton’s back pain from the tumors was unrelenting because his spine was unstable. He was confined to a wheelchair and walker; unable to enjoy any quality of life including working in his yard and spending time with his daughter, Britney. Dr. Shunyakov and board certified orthopedic surgeon, Troy Morrison, D.O., with CMH Orthopedic & Spine Center, recommended OsteoCool ^TM RF ablation for his pain.

“Before the procedure, I couldn’t get around at all,” Burton says. “After my surgery, I immediately felt relief. I used only a walker for a while, graduated to a cane and then got to the point where I didn’t need any assistance at all.”

OsteCool ^TM RF ablation is a minimally invasive spine procedure that uses energy to generate heat to dry out and kill cancerous cells. If a tumor is located in the spine, such as Burton’s, the patient may also have a vertebral compression fracture and Dr. Morrison will perform a vertebral-stabilizing procedure called kyphoplasty. The outpatient surgery takes 30 minutes.

Dr. Morrison is fellowship trained in spine surgery and is the region’s only orthopedic surgeon to perform OsteoCool procedures outside the spine.

“It’s not uncommon that cancer patients, with tumors outside the spine, would travel to Mayo Clinic or MD Anderson Cancer Center for this treatment,” Morrison says. “But, we can help patients with bone lesions reduce their pain and find relief, right here at CMH.”

Most patients diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer only have a 1in 10 chance of survival. After more than six years of treatment and surgeries, Burton is now in remission and finishing up his final infusions. After his kyphoplasty, Burton’s greatest accomplishment was escorting Britney onto the field for Osceola’s homecoming, without a walker.

“I told him we would save him,” Dr. Shunyakov says. “I knew Robert could beat the odds. He just kept the experts guessing.”

For more information on OsteoCool ^TM RF ablation and kyphoplasty, consult your provider or call CMH Orthopedic & Spine Center at 417-777-2663.