Brain met – experience with Novalis?
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Brain met – experience with Novalis?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Brain met – experience with Novalis?

  • Post
    • August 17, 2011 at 2:31 am
    Angela C
    Participant

    Hi everyone.

    I will be having sterotactic radiation for a 2-3mm met in my brain. I am having it at Loyola in Chicago and they have a Novalis machine. I'm a little freaked out about the procedure and the frame that is attached to my head.

    I'm hoping that those of you who have experienced radiation with Novalis can give me some info about your experience. I don't quite understand how the head frame is attached. Does it hurt?

    Hi everyone.

    I will be having sterotactic radiation for a 2-3mm met in my brain. I am having it at Loyola in Chicago and they have a Novalis machine. I'm a little freaked out about the procedure and the frame that is attached to my head.

    I'm hoping that those of you who have experienced radiation with Novalis can give me some info about your experience. I don't quite understand how the head frame is attached. Does it hurt?

    Did they give you anything to help you relax? I do okay with my CT and PET scans, but I'm a little freaked out about having a cage attached to my head all day and wondering if I need to get an anti-anxiety pill that day.

    I'm told that I will probably lose some hair because the met is very close to the top of my head. Did you lose hair? How much and how quick did it grow back?

    This is the first time any

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      • August 17, 2011 at 2:34 am
      Angela C
      Participant

      Oops. That got posted before I was done. =)

      This is the first time I've had anything in my brain, and it's scary! So, just looking for some advise and experience from those who've been here.

      Thanks!!

      • August 17, 2011 at 2:34 am
      Angela C
      Participant

      Oops. That got posted before I was done. =)

      This is the first time I've had anything in my brain, and it's scary! So, just looking for some advise and experience from those who've been here.

      Thanks!!

        • August 17, 2011 at 3:44 am
        kylez
        Participant

        Hi Angela,

        I've had 2 SRSs and I think it should almost always be a straightforward procedure. I had Gamma Knife, not Novalis, but they sound similar, if they're using a metal frame and not a mask. Basically they need to temoparily fix it to your skull so that it won't move so that the procedure can be very accurate. I was offered something (versed? atavan? I forget) when they put the GK head frame on. They said to bring some music which they played thru speakers for me during the actual SRS procedure. I don't know if I lost any hair — that wasn't mentioned but I'm kinda bald anyway. As they're treating a single location for you, the radiation dose probably shouldn't take that much out of you in terms of feeling any tiredness subsequent days. 

        Good luck tomorrow!

        – Kyle

        • August 17, 2011 at 3:44 am
        kylez
        Participant

        Hi Angela,

        I've had 2 SRSs and I think it should almost always be a straightforward procedure. I had Gamma Knife, not Novalis, but they sound similar, if they're using a metal frame and not a mask. Basically they need to temoparily fix it to your skull so that it won't move so that the procedure can be very accurate. I was offered something (versed? atavan? I forget) when they put the GK head frame on. They said to bring some music which they played thru speakers for me during the actual SRS procedure. I don't know if I lost any hair — that wasn't mentioned but I'm kinda bald anyway. As they're treating a single location for you, the radiation dose probably shouldn't take that much out of you in terms of feeling any tiredness subsequent days. 

        Good luck tomorrow!

        – Kyle

        • August 17, 2011 at 3:55 pm
        Jan in OC
        Participant

        Hi Angela,

        They should explain this to you at your meeting with the radiation oncologist.

        My husband had SRS done at UCLA with the Novalis machine for 2 mets in his brain in February.  They molded a mesh mask over his face and head,  then the mask bolted to the table.  There was no pain for him and afterward he got up and felt fine. He had no side effects and it was the easiest thing he's done.  

        I wish we could do it for the new ones that just grew.  Now we have to Surgery and Gamma or WBR…a lot more worries!

        Good luck

        Jan 

         

        • August 17, 2011 at 3:55 pm
        Jan in OC
        Participant

        Hi Angela,

        They should explain this to you at your meeting with the radiation oncologist.

        My husband had SRS done at UCLA with the Novalis machine for 2 mets in his brain in February.  They molded a mesh mask over his face and head,  then the mask bolted to the table.  There was no pain for him and afterward he got up and felt fine. He had no side effects and it was the easiest thing he's done.  

        I wish we could do it for the new ones that just grew.  Now we have to Surgery and Gamma or WBR…a lot more worries!

        Good luck

        Jan 

         

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