Gamma Knife treatment

[disfan07]

Has anyone here had gamma knife treatment or know anyone who has?

We just found out recently that I have a brain tumor that is about 1.5cm big in the middle of my brain. They think it is on the pineal gland but they are not sure because that gland is so small (about 5mm big and the tumor is about 1.5cm). They were going to do a biopsy this week but decided to re do the MRI and see if they could figure more out about what and where it is before doing the biopsy.
No matter what, They need to get it out because of the symptoms its causing. The problem is, with the location of the tumor, surgery is not a great option. Luckily, our hospital has a brain tumor center that has a gamma knife center in it. So my neurologist and neurosurgeon were discussing having me have gamma knife treatment instead of doing traditional surgery.

This option sounds great to me because i am a high risk surgery patient (pulmonary and cardiology problems) and its only an overnight stay instead of a long recovery.

I was just wondering if anyone here had experience with this treatment.

 

[cepmom]

no experience with this treatment, but I just wanted to wish you the bes tof luck with whatever treatment you go with. It must be scary

 

[nkjzmom]

Wow...what a coincidence. I was just getting on to post about a tumor I had removed last month. During surgery they were able to remove most of it but some had to be left because it was too close to the optic nerve and may have caused some serious problems for me.

I have read a little bit about the gamma knife treatment and it sounds like an amazing option for someone like you where surgery is not feasible. I will try to gather some information for you.

Please keep us updated!

 

[si-am]

My aunt had this done for Stage 4 breast cancer that had spread to her brain. In her case, they were not expecting to cure her-- just to slow the progression.

The procedure itself seemed relatively easy. I think she was in the hospital for only 24 hours!

It did work-- her symptoms subsided for a while, but of course came back just due to the aggressive nature of what she had.

Good luck-- I know it's a scary prospect.

 

[TinkerbEllnor]

I don't know much about it myself, but my DH is in the industry. His company makes the Xknife, similar to the Gamma knife. When I saw your post, I shot him a quick email and this is his reply:

Tell her to get a 2nd opinion (always a wise choice), but GammaKnife is a great option vs. surgery, especially given the location of the tumor, her history, etc.

 

[disfan07]

It did work-- her symptoms subsided for a while, but of course came back just due to the aggressive nature of what she had.

Thats the only positive thing is that what they are pretty sure I have is either benign or its only a grade II tumor which is cured by surgery and radiation therapy and it is not very aggreassive at all.

There are 3 possibilities as to what it is. It is either benign, a grade II malignancy (mlignanat but not aggressive), or a grade IV mlignancy (highly aggressive)

They are 99% sure it is either benign or grade II.
Right now, while we are waiting for biopsy adn surgery decisions to be made, I am having weekly MRIs to see if it grows

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I have no experience but want to wish you well

 

[tinkntraining]

I don't have any first-hand experience with it, but my mom has several meningiomas in her brain. They are concerning because of their location -- and she is not a candidate for typical surgery, either. Her neurosurgeon at Hershey Medical Center had decided to watch them (MRI every 3 months, then 6 months, now were up to a year) to see if there's any substantial growth. So far, there hasn't been (meningiomas are typically very slow-growing). But, the neurosurgeon explained the Gamma Knife procedure to us and we've opted to go that route if surgery becomes necessary.

It's a wonderful technological option for those who can't have traditional surgery (due to the delicate location of the tumor or other medical reasons). He explained that she would come home within 24 hours, with the incisions from the "halo" covered by nothing more than bandaids. Of course, you'll have to give your body time to recover.

Hoping for the best for you and praying for benign

 

[Sal]

My sister had this done a few years ago. Her situation sounds very similar to yours. Her tumor was growing very slowly, so the main concern was to halt the growth. Apparently this "sealed" the area to prevent growth and basically killed the tumor. Follow up MRIs have shown it to be shrinking slightly.

We were staying in a hotel since the surgery was in another city and she ws able to go out to eat the next day! I think her only immediate restriction was driving.

It is amazing that they can do this. Best of luck to you!


Sal

 

[mom2austin]

My stepfather had that procedure done twice in 2008, once in February (where they assured him they got it all) and once in August, once again assuring him they got it all.

I dont want to scare you, but he passed away December of 2008, so it didn't work for him.

I will say best of luck to you and I know in some cases it works, it just didn't in his.

 

[disfan07]

My stepfather had that procedure done twice in 2008, once in February (where they assured him they got it all) and once in August, once again assuring him they got it all.

I dont want to scare you, but he passed away December of 2008, so it didn't work for him.

I will say best of luck to you and I know in some cases it works, it just didn't in his

I'm so sorry for your loss.

That was one of the things that we were discussing wih tthe neurosurgeon.
He said that the surgery is possible to do...its just not the preferred decision especially in my situation. At Cedars-Sinai they have neurosurgeons who specialize is surgery for that area of teh brain. So what we talked about is doing teh gamma knife once and if it doesnt work, doing to traditional surgery. I'd rather try it this way first, and then if it doesnt work, have the traditional surgery.

I can deal with having heart surgery, having lung biopsies adn having central lines put in. But man when you talk about sticking something in my brain...im not so sure about that...lol

 

[mtdevine615]

My FIL went through this and it did work for him on the first one he had. He did end up with another tumor that was stage 4 when it was detected and that ended a brillant mans life.

 

[GeorgeG]

My brother-in-law was just talking about that option for the "inoperable" tumor he has on his brain stem. I guess there is an issue with the scar tissue he has as a result of previous radiation treatments, but I don't know yet if it's been determined if it's an option for him or not.

 

[Carnie]

I worked for several years at a Gamma Knife facility.

I saw AMAZING things happen for people. Generally, the only discomfort during the procedure is having the frame placed on your head (but they will give you a local anesthetic to help) and that's it. You usually can bring your own CDs to listen to, because you are laying in the machine for a time.

The procedure itself is painless. Some side effects are headaches and there can be occasional swelling inside near the treatment site, but they are not common.

I saw people with AVMs (the things that cause sudden, fatal anyeurisms) that were told were "inoperable" because they were too deep in the brain get a second chance at life, because the treatment closed them off so there was no chance of rupturing. I also knew of great success for people with acoustic neuromas (schwanomas). People with other forms of tumors also had varying degrees of success, it either stopped growth or slowed it down considerably.

Compared with the risk associated with open brain surgery, the risks of Gamma are much less.

I don't know if I can put links up yet, but if you go to doubleyou.. drnoren. com (I can't, so you have to string it together yourself).
you can read about the center I worked at. The doctor, Dr. Georg Noren, is a wonderful doctor and highly skilled at what he does. You can also read about how the treatment works.

PM me if you'd like more info.

Carnie

 

[Poohlovr]

I have had a gamma knife, altho it was not for a tumor, so I can't be much help there. If you have any questions about the procedure itself, I can help with that. Just shoot me a PM with any questions.

Best of luck to you and prayers that this is a benign tumor.

 

[kldmom2000]

My mother had it done about 8 months ago. She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer Dec. 2008 @ the age of 57. The only way they found the cancer was when she lost vision in one eye-the cancer had spread to so many organs and she ended up with tumors in her brain and one was pressing on the optic nerve causing the vision loss. Anyway, she had the procedure done and the only complaint she had was the heavy "helmet" they fit you for and you must wear.... in her case, her appt. was supposed to be around 11am, but they kept pushing her appt. later and later to fit other people in (there was only 1 MD in RI who does the procedure). Mom never complains, so they figured she was fine being pushed off.... they didn't do hers until almost 5pm and she had to keep that helmet on the whole time because it had been retrofitted early in the morning.

Anyway, the procedure itself wasn't bad at all she said and it was a success Granted, her cancer is so widespread that we know it's not curable, but the brain tumors are nearly gone and we hope she's able to be sustained to be with us for some time still

Good luck to you!!!!!