Gamma Knife

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!

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!

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!

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 

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 

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 

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.

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.

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.