Hi Judy, I agree with Jessica the decision is a difficult one and has to be taken very carefully. The experience of the Gamma Knife radiologist/doctor is just as important as the experience and skill of the neurosurgeon. Because the prospect of a possible surgery also troubled me a lot in the past two years, I have learned quite a bit from people, no other than neurosurgeons, about the differences!! Neurosurgeon A: The guy who said I had a rapid regrowth on seeing my six-month post-op MRI. He said GK is no good for pit tumours; it is too strong in one delivery and will certainly kill the pit gland. Unless the pit tumour is very small, there is a real danger of damaging the surrounding structure as well. He recommended the newer technology of stereostatic radiation, which will be a 20 odd times radiation treatment, each dossage is smaller and therefore not so deadly.This guy was initially against second surgery; he said 'save the result of the first surgery, do the radiation while you still can when the tumour stays just clear of the optical chiasm'. However, the radiologist/doctor whom he recommended me in turn recommended that I should do a second surgery, then radiation, for 'better management'. Neurosugeon B: Don't consider a second surgery, it will cause more damage to the pit gland. Don't consider the linac, X-knife type of radiation, the results had never been great in the government hospitals where I am, reason: because they use an arch, and the ray beams will be directed at the tumour whil going according the arch, there will be millimeters of errors in every movement, in the result, other structures in the region can be affected by radiation. If I really want to consider radiation, I may consider GK. There will be some 300 ray beams, they can shut down those beams from those beam holes (in layman terms) that may go through other structures in my head and which may therefore damage those structures before reaching the tumour, hence, greater precision and accuracy. Neurosurgeon C: This person initially suggested I might also consider GK. In the third visit, he however told me a recent story. A woman went for GK in China, badly done, developed a stroke because one of the main arteries was damaged. Had to fly down to his country, had second operation which she wanted to avoid in the first place, because the tumour was still growing. In short, different surgeons, doctors and radiologist will offer different opinions, very different opinions. The more you heard, the more confusing it can be. But knowledge is important. Somehow I can formulate a strategy after hearing more. Regards, Oldmanfore |
