› Forums › General Melanoma Community › questions about stereotactic brain radiation
- This topic has 24 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 6 months ago by SarahW.
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- June 13, 2013 at 9:39 am
Hi all,
Hi all,
Just back from Moffitt last night. My husband has 2 brain mets, one is 2.6 mm the other 2.7 mm. We are kind of stunned, but I suppose we shouldn't be. He's on Vemurafenib. He was on XL888 with the Vemurafenib, however XL888 has been d/c'd due to brain mets. He's off study now. The tumors in abdomen and lungs etc are stable. Oncologist is proposing stereotactic radiation. Is this the same thing as Gamma Knife? Oncologist said it would be a "one time targeted radiation of just the tumors, not the whole brain." If you or your family member has had this procedure how did you/they feel after the procedure? Any particular side effects on the day of or after treatment?
Thanks so much for your input.
Sarah
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- June 13, 2013 at 11:40 am
My husband had gamma knife…I know there’s a difference…on has a mask, one has a framE screwed into their head. I know there’s more difference, but i don’t know the difference. Mike’s was the frame…getting it put on was tough…even with the meds, but it was quick. It was a long day, but minus the pain from putting the frame on and a headache (1 percocet was all the pain meds he needed) he did fine. As soon as the frame came off, he felt like a million bucks. We stopped for a big meal of burger and fries on the way home. Not sure about normal recovery (he had a craniotomy 3 weeks before gamma knife). He had minimal pain..maybe a couple of tyleonol and was tired, but nothing major. He did lose his hair in the area of the tumor…it was near the surface of his brain. He was steroids and anti-seizure meds and was not allowed to drive for 3 months (I think the 3 months was because of the combination of craniotomy and gamma knife, but I’m fairly sure there is a driving restriction for a length of time after brain radiation). He also ended up with radiation induced necrossis about 8 months later (a possible side effect we were unaware of). It’s being controlled with steroids and anti-seizure meds. -
- June 13, 2013 at 11:40 am
My husband had gamma knife…I know there’s a difference…on has a mask, one has a framE screwed into their head. I know there’s more difference, but i don’t know the difference. Mike’s was the frame…getting it put on was tough…even with the meds, but it was quick. It was a long day, but minus the pain from putting the frame on and a headache (1 percocet was all the pain meds he needed) he did fine. As soon as the frame came off, he felt like a million bucks. We stopped for a big meal of burger and fries on the way home. Not sure about normal recovery (he had a craniotomy 3 weeks before gamma knife). He had minimal pain..maybe a couple of tyleonol and was tired, but nothing major. He did lose his hair in the area of the tumor…it was near the surface of his brain. He was steroids and anti-seizure meds and was not allowed to drive for 3 months (I think the 3 months was because of the combination of craniotomy and gamma knife, but I’m fairly sure there is a driving restriction for a length of time after brain radiation). He also ended up with radiation induced necrossis about 8 months later (a possible side effect we were unaware of). It’s being controlled with steroids and anti-seizure meds. -
- June 13, 2013 at 11:40 am
My husband had gamma knife…I know there’s a difference…on has a mask, one has a framE screwed into their head. I know there’s more difference, but i don’t know the difference. Mike’s was the frame…getting it put on was tough…even with the meds, but it was quick. It was a long day, but minus the pain from putting the frame on and a headache (1 percocet was all the pain meds he needed) he did fine. As soon as the frame came off, he felt like a million bucks. We stopped for a big meal of burger and fries on the way home. Not sure about normal recovery (he had a craniotomy 3 weeks before gamma knife). He had minimal pain..maybe a couple of tyleonol and was tired, but nothing major. He did lose his hair in the area of the tumor…it was near the surface of his brain. He was steroids and anti-seizure meds and was not allowed to drive for 3 months (I think the 3 months was because of the combination of craniotomy and gamma knife, but I’m fairly sure there is a driving restriction for a length of time after brain radiation). He also ended up with radiation induced necrossis about 8 months later (a possible side effect we were unaware of). It’s being controlled with steroids and anti-seizure meds. -
- June 13, 2013 at 11:47 am
"Gamma Knife" is a trademark name for one manuracturer's machine used for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). "Cyber Knife" is another trademark name. My brother had SRS to the brain at Moffitt. It was a simple procedure (from the patient's perspective) and he had no side effects ofther than feeling fatigued for a day or two.
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- June 13, 2013 at 11:47 am
"Gamma Knife" is a trademark name for one manuracturer's machine used for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). "Cyber Knife" is another trademark name. My brother had SRS to the brain at Moffitt. It was a simple procedure (from the patient's perspective) and he had no side effects ofther than feeling fatigued for a day or two.
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- June 13, 2013 at 11:47 am
"Gamma Knife" is a trademark name for one manuracturer's machine used for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). "Cyber Knife" is another trademark name. My brother had SRS to the brain at Moffitt. It was a simple procedure (from the patient's perspective) and he had no side effects ofther than feeling fatigued for a day or two.
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- June 13, 2013 at 11:48 am
I underwent SRS last Friday for a single brain met. the procedure went smoothly with no side effects other than feeling crappy from the Kepra and prednisone that i was put on prior to and after the radiation. I went in a week before the procedure to have a mask made and measurements taken. Best of luck! -
- June 13, 2013 at 11:48 am
I underwent SRS last Friday for a single brain met. the procedure went smoothly with no side effects other than feeling crappy from the Kepra and prednisone that i was put on prior to and after the radiation. I went in a week before the procedure to have a mask made and measurements taken. Best of luck! -
- June 13, 2013 at 11:48 am
I underwent SRS last Friday for a single brain met. the procedure went smoothly with no side effects other than feeling crappy from the Kepra and prednisone that i was put on prior to and after the radiation. I went in a week before the procedure to have a mask made and measurements taken. Best of luck! -
- June 13, 2013 at 11:49 am
I underwent SRS last Friday for a single brain met. the procedure went smoothly with no side effects other than feeling crappy from the Kepra and prednisone that i was put on prior to and after the radiation. I went in a week before the procedure to have a mask made and measurements taken. Best of luck! -
- June 13, 2013 at 11:49 am
I underwent SRS last Friday for a single brain met. the procedure went smoothly with no side effects other than feeling crappy from the Kepra and prednisone that i was put on prior to and after the radiation. I went in a week before the procedure to have a mask made and measurements taken. Best of luck! -
- June 13, 2013 at 11:49 am
I underwent SRS last Friday for a single brain met. the procedure went smoothly with no side effects other than feeling crappy from the Kepra and prednisone that i was put on prior to and after the radiation. I went in a week before the procedure to have a mask made and measurements taken. Best of luck!
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