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Has anyone traveled for their meningioma surgery?

Posted by Texastrails @jnf, Apr 7 8:40am

Hi--has anyone traveled for their meningioma surgery? If so, can you tell me how long you stayed close to the surgical center, and when you were released and felt comfortable heading home? Also, did you fly or drive home? Thank you so much!

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eyou | @eyou | Apr 15 1:40pm
In reply to @wadekirsten "I also live in Alaska-as soon as I found out I had a meningioma I went..." + (show)
@wadekirsten

I also live in Alaska-as soon as I found out I had a meningioma I went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester. I had gamma knife almost one year. I had a great experience. Much better than the care here in Anchorage....much better.

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Thanks for your comment. I went to Mayo Rochester and am on watch and wait. For surgery I would likely go there or Seattle. Did you look into Seattle doctors at all? Fairbanks doesn't have a neurosurgeon.Thanks!

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thomhorowitz | @thomhorowitz | Apr 17 9:27pm

Best to travel to tertiary center. You was to be in hands with lots of experience. Someone who uses gamma knife weekl,y not. Monthly.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 24 9:23am
In reply to @wadekirsten "I also live in Alaska-as soon as I found out I had a meningioma I went..." + (show)
@wadekirsten

I also live in Alaska-as soon as I found out I had a meningioma I went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester. I had gamma knife almost one year. I had a great experience. Much better than the care here in Anchorage....much better.

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@wadekirsten, welcome. How long ago was your treatment? How are you doing now?

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1 reply
wadekirsten | @wadekirsten | Apr 25 9:49am
In reply to @colleenyoung "@wadekirsten, welcome. How long ago was your treatment? How are you doing now?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

@wadekirsten, welcome. How long ago was your treatment? How are you doing now?

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It was almost exactly one year ago that I had gamma knife. I’m in touch either Dr Pollocks department about headaches I’ve been having, as well as facial sensations. The care at Mayo is amazing.

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dlc1953 | @dlc1953 | Apr 26 7:38am

Hello. I had the Gamma Knife a year ago in March. I had it done at the University. Of Pa., which fortunately only an hour away. I’d travel as far as I would have needed to, to insure the best hospital to have this done. I walked in at 6am. And walked out at 3:30. No side affects. No pain or after affects. The only thing I needed to take care of, is, where screws had to be put into my head in 4 places, to keep my head completely still during the procedure. I had to wear a halo. 6 months after checkup went well. I’m having another contrast MRI in September. The tumor had stopped growing. My surgeon told me that it would keep it from growing and over the years it might eventually shrink. My tumor was 6mm. Good luck.

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1 reply
Texastrails | @jnf | Apr 27 9:08am
In reply to @dlc1953 "Hello. I had the Gamma Knife a year ago in March. I had it done at..." + (show)
@dlc1953

Hello. I had the Gamma Knife a year ago in March. I had it done at the University. Of Pa., which fortunately only an hour away. I’d travel as far as I would have needed to, to insure the best hospital to have this done. I walked in at 6am. And walked out at 3:30. No side affects. No pain or after affects. The only thing I needed to take care of, is, where screws had to be put into my head in 4 places, to keep my head completely still during the procedure. I had to wear a halo. 6 months after checkup went well. I’m having another contrast MRI in September. The tumor had stopped growing. My surgeon told me that it would keep it from growing and over the years it might eventually shrink. My tumor was 6mm. Good luck.

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Thank you!

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helen68 | @helen68 | 5 days ago

Hi
I am in France. Home is the U.K. was unwell, admitted to hospital. Had CT scan and MRI diagnosed with Meningioma in my cerebellum. Came as a complete shock as no symptoms prior to being unwell. Surgery not an option as too risky. Plan is 30 sessions of radiotherapy over 6 weeks. France healthcare has been really good. Just waiting for insurance to confirm they are happy to cover me x

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thomhorowitz | @thomhorowitz | 2 days ago

I would travel to get best surgeon I could get. Mine may move across country. If I need any more surgery I would travel to him. There is a bell shaped curve in every specialty. Go to the A player. Usually the best have academic ties. Or or at major medical centers. You do not want critical services at the community hospital level.

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