SRS (Stereotactic Radiosurgery) for a benign schwannoma?

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?

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

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).

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?

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.

@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!