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Gamma Knife and Bio Chem
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Gamma Knife and Bio Chem

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Gamma Knife and Bio Chem

  • Post
    • July 24, 2011 at 7:49 pm
    llw75751
    Participant

      I am new to this board , have been following for some time now, but first time to post.I am in houston hotel awaiting my 3rd visit to MD Anderson, I had originally came here to start IPI Friday, but scan results thursday shows brain met, which is reason for gamma knife tomorrow. I was kinda of shocked by the news so did not ask alot of questions that i should have and i know you guys are full of great information.

      So first question is for anyone who has had gamma knife procedure, exactly what is this? procedure? down time?etc.

      I am new to this board , have been following for some time now, but first time to post.I am in houston hotel awaiting my 3rd visit to MD Anderson, I had originally came here to start IPI Friday, but scan results thursday shows brain met, which is reason for gamma knife tomorrow. I was kinda of shocked by the news so did not ask alot of questions that i should have and i know you guys are full of great information.

      So first question is for anyone who has had gamma knife procedure, exactly what is this? procedure? down time?etc.

      and the scarey question Bio Chem how bad is it really? I know every person is different but there are those symptoms that you can pretty much expect what are they???   please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Thank you in advance, I have not put anything on profile yet, but will. I am actually in lobby of hotel so limited on time. I will check back later and thanks again.

      Laura

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    • Replies
        • July 24, 2011 at 7:53 pm
        jimjoeb
        Participant

          My prayers are with you!

          I have no personal experience with this but found this link to explain what it is:

          http://www.umm.edu/features/gamma_knife.htm

          • July 24, 2011 at 7:53 pm
          jimjoeb
          Participant

            My prayers are with you!

            I have no personal experience with this but found this link to explain what it is:

            http://www.umm.edu/features/gamma_knife.htm

            • July 24, 2011 at 8:28 pm
            nickmac56
            Participant

              tough news. The treatment doesn't hurt at all. You might lose hair.

              Biggest issue is that you will be put on steroids after radiation because of inflammation of brain tumor area. That is a contraindicator for most immunotherapy. In trials and in practice using approved drugs like Interleukin 2 or Yervoy (Ipi) you usually have to be off them, and for at least thirty days. So I'd ask about that. You gotta do the brain zapping with either gamma or cyberknife (ask why not Cyberknife? ) so that is definitely the first step. But it might radically change your next treatment option from what you thought.

              Nick

                • July 25, 2011 at 12:16 am
                llw75751
                Participant

                  Thanks everybody, I feel better may be able to get some sleep tonight.

                  • July 25, 2011 at 12:16 am
                  llw75751
                  Participant

                    Thanks everybody, I feel better may be able to get some sleep tonight.

                  • July 24, 2011 at 8:28 pm
                  nickmac56
                  Participant

                    tough news. The treatment doesn't hurt at all. You might lose hair.

                    Biggest issue is that you will be put on steroids after radiation because of inflammation of brain tumor area. That is a contraindicator for most immunotherapy. In trials and in practice using approved drugs like Interleukin 2 or Yervoy (Ipi) you usually have to be off them, and for at least thirty days. So I'd ask about that. You gotta do the brain zapping with either gamma or cyberknife (ask why not Cyberknife? ) so that is definitely the first step. But it might radically change your next treatment option from what you thought.

                    Nick

                    • July 26, 2011 at 3:40 am
                    MaryBeth and Jeff
                    Participant

                      Dear Laura

                      My husband had Gamma Knife Surgery twice and tolerated both very very well. He did have a bit of a headache after the first one. Yes you will be put on steroids but they will taper you off of them as quickly as they possibly can. He was still able to receive his Yervoy/IPI treatments even while on the steroids.

                      • July 26, 2011 at 3:40 am
                      MaryBeth and Jeff
                      Participant

                        Dear Laura

                        My husband had Gamma Knife Surgery twice and tolerated both very very well. He did have a bit of a headache after the first one. Yes you will be put on steroids but they will taper you off of them as quickly as they possibly can. He was still able to receive his Yervoy/IPI treatments even while on the steroids.

                          • July 26, 2011 at 3:43 am
                          MaryBeth and Jeff
                          Participant

                            My husband had no downtime from the Gamma (Other then the days of the treatment). He was back to work the next day after each treatment.

                            • July 26, 2011 at 3:43 am
                            MaryBeth and Jeff
                            Participant

                              My husband had no downtime from the Gamma (Other then the days of the treatment). He was back to work the next day after each treatment.

                            • July 27, 2011 at 1:03 am
                            LBN
                            Participant

                              Hope it all went well for you! I have had two gamma knife sessions in the past two weeks for my two brain mets. I am also having radiation for other tumors at the same time and finish up with them tomorrow. I had no down time at all and did not lose any hair in the process. They did start me on Temodor but so far I am able to handle it. I am now not able to start up the esai trial I was hoping to start becasue of the the brain mets. Not sure what my next step is going to be. Hope you get to start your trial after this is all done.

                              • July 27, 2011 at 1:03 am
                              LBN
                              Participant

                                Hope it all went well for you! I have had two gamma knife sessions in the past two weeks for my two brain mets. I am also having radiation for other tumors at the same time and finish up with them tomorrow. I had no down time at all and did not lose any hair in the process. They did start me on Temodor but so far I am able to handle it. I am now not able to start up the esai trial I was hoping to start becasue of the the brain mets. Not sure what my next step is going to be. Hope you get to start your trial after this is all done.

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