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Anyone else diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, a benign brain tumor?
Brain Tumor | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (515)Comment receiving replies
When I found that I had an AN, my primary doctor insisted that I go to Yale and have something done immediately. When I told him I found and alternative, he was not too happy I guess because this GK was so new and didn't have a history yet. He was upset with my choice to do it but after it was done and he saw how good it went and kept getting the yearly MRI reports of its shrinking, he told me he was wrong and would recommend GK to anyone who had an AN. I think because of him, I thought I had to act quickly. In hindsight I now know that these are slow growing and you don't need to act quickly. You and your doctor are doing the right thing. This way you can do your homework.
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Hi Roses. GK is for Gamma Knife and it is a radiation therapy. They call it gamma knife surgery but there is no knife and no surgery! The 'knife' is the gamma ray that is sent only to the tumor in a precise manner. Lots of hospitals have these macjines now but I got mine in Rhode Island. You can google it and I'm sure find a lot about it. Mine was done almost 20 years ago and my last MRI showed it is still shrinking. From what you say, I guess they did not get the entire tumor out with the surgery. I think if I were in your shoes I'd still play the waiting game. These are typically slow growing, so you do have time unless you have other symptoms which the tumor is causing. I have balance issues too as your ears control balance, so that's just a given. I also lost hearing in my left ear and sometimes it rings. I know they do GK even if you have had a surgery before. Wishing you good luck. Andrea K
Hi: Yes they left 2 percent on my brain. Stem due to the fact the majority of what's left rests on my facial nerves . I was told if the tumor grows I will need spot radiation to reduce it, it is growing, slowly and my nuerosurgeon is watching it. What's the radiation like? Has it effected your body???
I suppose they left the 2% so that they didn't mess with your facial nerves which could be a real problem. Good for them! Your doctor might be talking about gamma knife, but they have many other forms of this now which they use for all kinds of tumors. Because the process directs many rays directly to your tumor, it has no effect on any other part of your brain. There is no pain involved and it does not effect your body in any way -- just the tumor! I would certainly recommend it to anyone.
For further reading, here is information from Mayo Clinic on the gamma knife also known as brain stereotactic radiosurgery http://mayocl.in/2egI5oM
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I had an acoustic neuroma removed surgically 2 years ago, now I have imbalance issues, ears plug up a lot. I lost hearing in left ear due to the tumor. Just had an annual MRI in august , my ENT says a part of it has grown a hair. What is GK?