Gamma Knife
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Gamma Knife

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Gamma Knife

  • Post
    • September 30, 2015 at 6:16 pm
    Tracyd715
    Participant

    Has anyone had Gamma Knife treatment for a brain lesion? My husband is scheduled to have this done next Friday and was looking for some input on what to expect and how your results were.

Viewing 8 reply threads
  • Replies
      • September 30, 2015 at 7:01 pm
      marta010
      Participant

      Hi – my husband has had three gamma knife treatments on three different spots.  The procedure itself is painless, however a frame is attached to the head which is uncomfortable while it is screwed on.   Each treatment was about 6 hours from arriving at the hospital to going home.   His results were good. The largest of his tumors initially shrunk but then developed necrosis.  He had a subsequent craniotomy to remove the remaining tumor.  The other two tumors have responded to treatment and are no longer showing any activity.  All in all, not the worst treatment he has endured.  Good luck!

      • September 30, 2015 at 7:01 pm
      marta010
      Participant

      Hi – my husband has had three gamma knife treatments on three different spots.  The procedure itself is painless, however a frame is attached to the head which is uncomfortable while it is screwed on.   Each treatment was about 6 hours from arriving at the hospital to going home.   His results were good. The largest of his tumors initially shrunk but then developed necrosis.  He had a subsequent craniotomy to remove the remaining tumor.  The other two tumors have responded to treatment and are no longer showing any activity.  All in all, not the worst treatment he has endured.  Good luck!

        • September 30, 2015 at 10:13 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        Thank you! Just happy to know that something along this journey will be painless for him.

        • September 30, 2015 at 10:13 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        Thank you! Just happy to know that something along this journey will be painless for him.

        • September 30, 2015 at 10:13 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        Thank you! Just happy to know that something along this journey will be painless for him.

      • September 30, 2015 at 7:01 pm
      marta010
      Participant

      Hi – my husband has had three gamma knife treatments on three different spots.  The procedure itself is painless, however a frame is attached to the head which is uncomfortable while it is screwed on.   Each treatment was about 6 hours from arriving at the hospital to going home.   His results were good. The largest of his tumors initially shrunk but then developed necrosis.  He had a subsequent craniotomy to remove the remaining tumor.  The other two tumors have responded to treatment and are no longer showing any activity.  All in all, not the worst treatment he has endured.  Good luck!

      • September 30, 2015 at 10:55 pm
      khubes
      Participant

      Hi there,

      My husband has had 9 brain mets treated with SRS (same thing as Gamma Knife) and has had very good results.  He did have one complication (we aren't sure if it was caused by the SRS or just because it was a problematic tumor) where his largest tumor bled after radiation to the point of causing severe swelling and forced the doctors to perform a craniotomy to remove the tumor completely.  This was actually a very good thing – the tumor was causing paralysis and was preventing my husband from getting the treatment he needed.  All of the other tumors have responded well to radiation.  All of his tumors have stopped growing and others are starting to get smaller.   

      The procedure itself is fairly painless (according to my husband!).  As noted above, the only real discomfort he had was the hard plastic mask you are required to wear during the session and the fact that you can't move.  I believe each tumor took about 20-30 minutes to radiate.  His side effects were very minimal – maybe just some increased fatigue.  

      As a note, I really don't think that my husband's situation regarding his tumor bleeding excessively was or is the norm.  

      Wishing you and your husband the best of luck! 

      Katie 

        • October 1, 2015 at 1:00 am
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        Thank you Katie!  Glad everything worked out for your husband.

        • October 1, 2015 at 4:29 pm
        khubes
        Participant

        Thank you! 🙂 

        I read on another one of your comments that your husband will begin Keytruda soon – is that correct?  My husband is currently on Keytruda.  He has had a great response to treatment…he's had no new tumors in his brain and the few that were in his body (the adrenal tumor was particularly large) have shrunk significantly since starting treatment on July 1.  Just wanted to share some encouraging news about Keytruda with you. 🙂 

        Best of luck! 

        Katie 

        • October 1, 2015 at 4:29 pm
        khubes
        Participant

        Thank you! 🙂 

        I read on another one of your comments that your husband will begin Keytruda soon – is that correct?  My husband is currently on Keytruda.  He has had a great response to treatment…he's had no new tumors in his brain and the few that were in his body (the adrenal tumor was particularly large) have shrunk significantly since starting treatment on July 1.  Just wanted to share some encouraging news about Keytruda with you. 🙂 

        Best of luck! 

        Katie 

        • October 1, 2015 at 4:29 pm
        khubes
        Participant

        Thank you! 🙂 

        I read on another one of your comments that your husband will begin Keytruda soon – is that correct?  My husband is currently on Keytruda.  He has had a great response to treatment…he's had no new tumors in his brain and the few that were in his body (the adrenal tumor was particularly large) have shrunk significantly since starting treatment on July 1.  Just wanted to share some encouraging news about Keytruda with you. 🙂 

        Best of luck! 

        Katie 

        • October 3, 2015 at 6:09 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        Yes he will start Keytruda after the interferon gets out of his system. We're still waiting for a pet scan to be scheduled as well since these lesions appeared out of nowhere. His last one was in June and was clear. He'll be having the gamma knife treatment next Friday morning in Pittsburgh.

        • October 3, 2015 at 6:09 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        Yes he will start Keytruda after the interferon gets out of his system. We're still waiting for a pet scan to be scheduled as well since these lesions appeared out of nowhere. His last one was in June and was clear. He'll be having the gamma knife treatment next Friday morning in Pittsburgh.

        • October 3, 2015 at 6:09 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        Yes he will start Keytruda after the interferon gets out of his system. We're still waiting for a pet scan to be scheduled as well since these lesions appeared out of nowhere. His last one was in June and was clear. He'll be having the gamma knife treatment next Friday morning in Pittsburgh.

        • October 1, 2015 at 1:00 am
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        Thank you Katie!  Glad everything worked out for your husband.

        • October 1, 2015 at 1:00 am
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        Thank you Katie!  Glad everything worked out for your husband.

      • September 30, 2015 at 10:55 pm
      khubes
      Participant

      Hi there,

      My husband has had 9 brain mets treated with SRS (same thing as Gamma Knife) and has had very good results.  He did have one complication (we aren't sure if it was caused by the SRS or just because it was a problematic tumor) where his largest tumor bled after radiation to the point of causing severe swelling and forced the doctors to perform a craniotomy to remove the tumor completely.  This was actually a very good thing – the tumor was causing paralysis and was preventing my husband from getting the treatment he needed.  All of the other tumors have responded well to radiation.  All of his tumors have stopped growing and others are starting to get smaller.   

      The procedure itself is fairly painless (according to my husband!).  As noted above, the only real discomfort he had was the hard plastic mask you are required to wear during the session and the fact that you can't move.  I believe each tumor took about 20-30 minutes to radiate.  His side effects were very minimal – maybe just some increased fatigue.  

      As a note, I really don't think that my husband's situation regarding his tumor bleeding excessively was or is the norm.  

      Wishing you and your husband the best of luck! 

      Katie 

      • September 30, 2015 at 10:55 pm
      khubes
      Participant

      Hi there,

      My husband has had 9 brain mets treated with SRS (same thing as Gamma Knife) and has had very good results.  He did have one complication (we aren't sure if it was caused by the SRS or just because it was a problematic tumor) where his largest tumor bled after radiation to the point of causing severe swelling and forced the doctors to perform a craniotomy to remove the tumor completely.  This was actually a very good thing – the tumor was causing paralysis and was preventing my husband from getting the treatment he needed.  All of the other tumors have responded well to radiation.  All of his tumors have stopped growing and others are starting to get smaller.   

      The procedure itself is fairly painless (according to my husband!).  As noted above, the only real discomfort he had was the hard plastic mask you are required to wear during the session and the fact that you can't move.  I believe each tumor took about 20-30 minutes to radiate.  His side effects were very minimal – maybe just some increased fatigue.  

      As a note, I really don't think that my husband's situation regarding his tumor bleeding excessively was or is the norm.  

      Wishing you and your husband the best of luck! 

      Katie 

      • October 1, 2015 at 7:38 pm
      kylez
      Participant

      I love the Gamma Knife. I had two small brain tumors 6cm and smaller zapped as well as two  tumor beds from 2 resections 2 weeks before. That was followed in quick succesion with Ipi. So far so good in the brain since 2011 and forward. Also the attachment of the metal frame was a non-issue/no biggie. I like it better than the plastic mask because I don't want my head to be out of place even by 1mm. Good luck tomorrow or next week to your husband.

      • October 1, 2015 at 7:38 pm
      kylez
      Participant

      I love the Gamma Knife. I had two small brain tumors 6cm and smaller zapped as well as two  tumor beds from 2 resections 2 weeks before. That was followed in quick succesion with Ipi. So far so good in the brain since 2011 and forward. Also the attachment of the metal frame was a non-issue/no biggie. I like it better than the plastic mask because I don't want my head to be out of place even by 1mm. Good luck tomorrow or next week to your husband.

      • October 1, 2015 at 7:38 pm
      kylez
      Participant

      I love the Gamma Knife. I had two small brain tumors 6cm and smaller zapped as well as two  tumor beds from 2 resections 2 weeks before. That was followed in quick succesion with Ipi. So far so good in the brain since 2011 and forward. Also the attachment of the metal frame was a non-issue/no biggie. I like it better than the plastic mask because I don't want my head to be out of place even by 1mm. Good luck tomorrow or next week to your husband.

        • October 3, 2015 at 6:12 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        Thanks for the insight. Heading to Pittsburgh next week and will do the treatment Friday morning.

        • October 3, 2015 at 6:12 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        Thanks for the insight. Heading to Pittsburgh next week and will do the treatment Friday morning.

        • October 3, 2015 at 6:12 pm
        Tracyd715
        Participant

        Thanks for the insight. Heading to Pittsburgh next week and will do the treatment Friday morning.

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