I had my Gamma Knife surgery 4/11/14 - 6 month update - It worked!

[cagneyd]

I had my 6 month post Gamma Knife MRI today and was pleasantly surprised. The MRI was 1 1/2 hours long and I was late for my appointment with the Neurosurgeon and Radiation Oncologist. But they were fine with that. I was told that the tumor shrunk by 10 - 15% and they noticed the beginning of the necrosis in the middle of the tumor.

It really does work!!

Hearing loss is still the same and I am going back to my ENT to discuss the possibility of hearing aids. The tinnitus is still very loud but that is something I will need to live with.

All in all, a great day - back for another MRI in another 6 months.

[john1455]

The odds were on your side; radiosurgery has a 96-98% success rate 

[arizonajack]

I had my 6 month post Gamma Knife MRI today and was pleasantly surprised. The MRI was 1 1/2 hours long and I was late for my appointment with the Neurosurgeon and Radiation Oncologist. But they were fine with that. I was told that the tumor shrunk by 10 - 15% and they noticed the beginning of the necrosis in the middle of the tumor.

It really does work!!

Yes, it does.

I had my GK in January 2013 and have already had the 6 month and 12 month MRIs which showed the necrosis and slight swelling (expected) in the 6 month MRI and an almost imperceptible shrinkage in the 12 month MRI.

Do you get the MRI images of each MRI? I do. I suggest you do the same if you haven't done so already.

[ASG]

Woohoo! Congratulations on the awesome 6 month results!

Adam

[SueLL]

So glad to hear a positive report!  I am 2-1/2 months post GK, and I am anxious for my updated MRI and hearing tests.  Everything I read indicates that GK takes quite a long time to show results.  Posts such as yours help keep the positive thoughts active!

[arizonajack]

So glad to hear a positive report!  I am 2-1/2 months post GK, and I am anxious for my updated MRI and hearing tests.  Everything I read indicates that GK takes quite a long time to show results.

Yes, could take from two to three years to show results. Your post doesn't mention the dimensions of your AN. Mine was small, about the shape and size of the one in the following series of images that I got off the internet (can't post my own):

http://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0360301612004336-gr3.jpg

You'll probably see the necrosis and swelling at 6 months (I did), that's expected. Might or might not change at 12 months. I'm coming up on my two year MRI in early 2015 and I'm expecting to see some shrinkage.

[Sooter]

Hello.  I had GK at NYU on May 9, 2014.  NO symptoms at all until 3 weeks ago and I am now getting dizzy spells.  My AN was 14mm x 8mm.  I did not have any dizziness before GK but now am noticing frequent spells of it.  It has not stopped me from moving forward but is troubling.  Anyone have experience post GK approx 5 months post?  Love to hear from you.  Thanks. Deborah.

[arizonajack]

Hello.  I had GK at NYU on May 9, 2014.  NO symptoms at all until 3 weeks ago and I am now getting dizzy spells.  My AN was 14mm x 8mm.  I did not have any dizziness before GK but now am noticing frequent spells of it.  It has not stopped me from moving forward but is troubling.  Anyone have experience post GK approx 5 months post?  Love to hear from you.  Thanks. Deborah.

Many AN victims have reported dizziness (vertigo) in conjunction with their AN but it's odd that you have it now without having had it earlier.

Have you had yourself checked out to determine if maybe the dizziness is not related to the AN?

[Sooter]

No I haven't.  I read a post about the tumor splaying (sp) after GK and that it was typical for it to swell and then go down.  Hoping the dizziness is as a result of that.

[john1455]

I developed slight dizziness about a couple months after my CyberKnife treatment. I had none before and when I questioned Dr Chang about it during my 6 month postop visit, he said that was normal.