SRS (Stereotactic Radiosurgery) for a benign schwannoma?

Posted by janoh @janoh, Aug 15, 2019

Anyone have any info/success on SRS for a benign Schwannoma? Neurosurgeon said that surgery to remove this tumor is very risky, as it is pressing on her brainstem and she is recovering from a brain hemorrhage since January 2019.

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Hi @janoh, I'm just catching up on your daughter's experience with acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma). Here are some other discussions about stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), sometimes referred to as gamma dnife or cyberknife surgery.

@mrser52 talks about the stereotactic radiosurgery experience here. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/meningioma-brain-tumor-on-right-trigeminal-nerve/
And these discussions
– multiple meningioma brain tumors https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/brain-tumors/
– Life after Brain surgery https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/life-after-brain-surgery/
- Meningiomas. Gamma knife or Cyber Knife. Which is more effective ? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/meningeomas-gamma-knife-or-cyber-knife-which-is-more-effective/

Did her neurosurgeon suggest SRS as an option?

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@colleenyoung

Hi @janoh, I'm just catching up on your daughter's experience with acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma). Here are some other discussions about stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), sometimes referred to as gamma dnife or cyberknife surgery.

@mrser52 talks about the stereotactic radiosurgery experience here. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/meningioma-brain-tumor-on-right-trigeminal-nerve/
And these discussions
– multiple meningioma brain tumors https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/brain-tumors/
– Life after Brain surgery https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/life-after-brain-surgery/
- Meningiomas. Gamma knife or Cyber Knife. Which is more effective ? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/meningeomas-gamma-knife-or-cyber-knife-which-is-more-effective/

Did her neurosurgeon suggest SRS as an option?

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No he did not. We are getting a second opinion.

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I have multiple spots and 3 brain lesions. My oncologist recommends WBRT but I’m inclined to trying SRS. Radiologists and brain surgeons say that it is quite risky because they can miss a few spots, risking that new lesions pop up. I appreciate any similar circumstances to help me with this difficult decision. Also what are the SEs of WBR and SRS (10 sessions recommended if we opt for SRS).

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@nab

I have multiple spots and 3 brain lesions. My oncologist recommends WBRT but I’m inclined to trying SRS. Radiologists and brain surgeons say that it is quite risky because they can miss a few spots, risking that new lesions pop up. I appreciate any similar circumstances to help me with this difficult decision. Also what are the SEs of WBR and SRS (10 sessions recommended if we opt for SRS).

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Hi, @nab - since you were talking about stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), I moved your post here where others have been talking about the same subject. Hoping @janoh and @mrser52 will join this discussion and offer some pros and cons for doing SRS. @merpreb @dreamintwilight and @IndianaScott also may have some thoughts for you.

Did your doctor offer you reasons for recommending the whole brain radiotherapy? If so, what did he or she say?

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@lisalucier

Hi, @nab - since you were talking about stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), I moved your post here where others have been talking about the same subject. Hoping @janoh and @mrser52 will join this discussion and offer some pros and cons for doing SRS. @merpreb @dreamintwilight and @IndianaScott also may have some thoughts for you.

Did your doctor offer you reasons for recommending the whole brain radiotherapy? If so, what did he or she say?

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Thanks Lisa. They are afraid that new lesions could pop up from the multiple spots. I want some quality of life but am weary of the risks of some spots not appearing on the MRI.

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@lisalucier

Hi, @nab - since you were talking about stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), I moved your post here where others have been talking about the same subject. Hoping @janoh and @mrser52 will join this discussion and offer some pros and cons for doing SRS. @merpreb @dreamintwilight and @IndianaScott also may have some thoughts for you.

Did your doctor offer you reasons for recommending the whole brain radiotherapy? If so, what did he or she say?

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@nab- Good morning and welcome to Mayo Connect. I am a Mayo Connect mentor for lung cancer and lung health. I have Multifocal adenocarcinoma of the lungs. It started 12+ years ago and 10 years after my first lung cancer. I had two lobes removed prior to having SBRT (Stereotactic radiation therapy, also called stereotactic external-beam radiation therapy and stereotaxic radiation therapy. It is a type of external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to position the patient and precisely deliver radiation to a tumor.) I have had two occasions when this has been used, but with 2 different kinds of beams. I have written a blog and posts about my experiences if you would like to read them. https://my20yearscancer.com/photon-radiation-treatment/
I don't understand what your doctors mean by being cautious because new lesions could pop up from the multiple spots. Does this mean that there might be too many spots to zap?
I agree that quality of life is the main consideration when making life decisions. And they are so tough to make! There is so much to weigh!

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