Author Topic: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013  (Read 71561 times)

arizonajack

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Re: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013
« Reply #75 on: March 21, 2016, 09:38:52 am »
Morse Code today.  ;D
3/15/18 12mm x 6mm x5mm
9/21/16 12mm x 7mm x 5mm
3/23/15 12mm x 5.5mm x 4mm
3/13/14 12mm x 6mm x 4mm
8/1/13 14mm x 5mm x 4mm (Expected)
1/22/13 12mm x 3mm (Gamma Knife)
10/10/12 11mm x 4mm x 5mm
4/4/12 9mm x 4mm x 3mm (Diagnosis)

My story at: http://www.anausa.org/smf/index.php?topic=18287.0

arizonajack

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Re: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013
« Reply #76 on: April 30, 2016, 04:27:48 pm »
Every once in a while I go back over my story to see if there is anything that I missed that I can add for the enlightenment or amusement of the readers. Today it's going to be amusement. I noted that I once referred to my medical team as Dr Howard, Dr Fine and Dr Howard but didn't explain how that came about.

I was originally scheduled for Gamma Knife in late December 2012. A few days prior to the appointment I got a call that it was cancelled because the 3 doctors couldn't all get together for that day and it was pushed back to January 2013.

That's when I started thinking of them as Dr Howard, Dr Fine and Dr Howard.

The reference comes from a Three Stooges episode called Men in Black where they are inept doctors at a hospital and repeatedly during the episode the public address system squawks "Calling Dr Howard, Dr Fine and Dr Howard."

Watch the episode at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDI3kmHcuUU

At some point prior to my GK I explained that to my friend and jokingly mentioned that I would take a marking pen and mark the side of my head that the tumor was on just to make sure that Dr Howard, Dr fine and Dr Howard got it right, thinking about all the stories where people go into the hospital for one thing and end up getting something else done by mistake.

On the date of the GK I am sitting on the gurney waiting for my turn at the machine. The nurse comes in, hands me a marking pen and tells me to mark the side of my head where the tumor is. S'help me I'm not making that up. I laughed so hard I nearly fell of the gurney.



3/15/18 12mm x 6mm x5mm
9/21/16 12mm x 7mm x 5mm
3/23/15 12mm x 5.5mm x 4mm
3/13/14 12mm x 6mm x 4mm
8/1/13 14mm x 5mm x 4mm (Expected)
1/22/13 12mm x 3mm (Gamma Knife)
10/10/12 11mm x 4mm x 5mm
4/4/12 9mm x 4mm x 3mm (Diagnosis)

My story at: http://www.anausa.org/smf/index.php?topic=18287.0

arizonajack

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Re: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013
« Reply #77 on: October 21, 2016, 10:24:13 am »
I had my latest MRI on 9/21/16.

About the same size and shape as it was 18 months ago.

Disappointed with no shrinkage but OK with stability.

Next MRI will be March 2018.
3/15/18 12mm x 6mm x5mm
9/21/16 12mm x 7mm x 5mm
3/23/15 12mm x 5.5mm x 4mm
3/13/14 12mm x 6mm x 4mm
8/1/13 14mm x 5mm x 4mm (Expected)
1/22/13 12mm x 3mm (Gamma Knife)
10/10/12 11mm x 4mm x 5mm
4/4/12 9mm x 4mm x 3mm (Diagnosis)

My story at: http://www.anausa.org/smf/index.php?topic=18287.0

MichaelNorCal

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Re: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013
« Reply #78 on: November 05, 2016, 05:55:16 pm »
Thanks for sharing your story AJ.  :)

As I begin this journey it is super-helpful to learn from those of you who have been down this road before.

I'm guessing that based on my age and AN size, that I'll be having surgery, but I haven't even gotten to the point of getting input from a neurosurgeon yet, so stay tuned...
vestibular schwannoma, right side
10/31/16 18mm x 19mm x 17mm (diagnosis day)
Awaiting treatment options

arizonajack

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Hello, I must be going.
« Reply #79 on: April 20, 2018, 06:55:44 pm »
I have long been disappointed by the discrimination against Canadian members who have to pay $70 per year when US members pay only $45 per year (with an $80 option for 2 years). I have voiced my disappointment with the director in the past only to be given vague excuses that cannot possibly justify the amount charged to Canadians when practically everything on ANA is digital and costs no more to serve a Canadian member than it does a US member. About the only time anything is actually mailed is a solicitation for donations which would take less than $2 to send to a Canadian member.

I just don't get it and can no longer, in good conscience, give financial support to the ANA so this is likely to be my last message.

Meantime, my most recent MRI shows no shrinkage, but also no growth. As before, I am happy with stability.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.




(Credit for the subject line goes to Groucho Marx. Credit for the sign-off goes to Douglas Adams.)
3/15/18 12mm x 6mm x5mm
9/21/16 12mm x 7mm x 5mm
3/23/15 12mm x 5.5mm x 4mm
3/13/14 12mm x 6mm x 4mm
8/1/13 14mm x 5mm x 4mm (Expected)
1/22/13 12mm x 3mm (Gamma Knife)
10/10/12 11mm x 4mm x 5mm
4/4/12 9mm x 4mm x 3mm (Diagnosis)

My story at: http://www.anausa.org/smf/index.php?topic=18287.0

notaclone13

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Re: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013
« Reply #80 on: April 20, 2018, 08:54:01 pm »
Speaking for myself and I am sure many others on the discussion forum you will be missed. Wishing you continued good health in the future.

rupert

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Re: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013
« Reply #81 on: April 21, 2018, 06:26:24 am »
Jack,   you don't need to be a member of the ANA to use the forums.  I've been here 10 years now and I've never been a member or paid anything.  Maybe you knew this,  anyway it's your decision.

notaclone13

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Re: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013
« Reply #82 on: April 21, 2018, 07:45:12 am »
That’s true for me as well.  I haven’t paid to read and post on the forum.  You do have to pay to get the excellent features and webinars provided by the ANA but not to participate in the forum.

Echo

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Re: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013
« Reply #83 on: April 25, 2018, 06:06:41 pm »
Thanks Jack for raising a very valid concern regarding membership rates.  Just to add to your point, the rates you have quoted are in US Dollars.  Based on today's exchange rate, I would have to pay $90.08 Canadian for the $70.00 USA membership!   For me this has become a matter of principal, so, like Rupert and notaclone13, I will continue to enjoy the forum without a membership....lets hope that option doesn't change.

I hope you will continue to monitor the Forum and add your comments from time to time.  We could always count on you to be informative, funny and encouraging!  Your posts will be missed.

Keep well.
Cathie - Toronto, Canada



Diagnosed: June 2012, right side AN 1.8cm
June 2013: AN has grown to 2.4 cm.
Gamma Knife: Sept. 11, 2013 Toronto Western Hospital

robinb

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Re: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013
« Reply #84 on: May 06, 2018, 07:46:14 am »
Hi Jack/Cathie-

Glad to see some recent activity from my old group from 5 years ago! Haven't been on here in a while. Was recently as I passed my 5 year mark.

I didn't realize the disparity in membership dues or that people could post without being members.

However, because I can, I choose to pay a little more to give some financial support. When I was 1st diagnosed, this forum was a huge help to me, so will gladly keep my paid membership going as long as I can afford to do so.

Hope everyone stays well!

-Robin
AN Diagnosed 11-2012 right side
13mm x 7.2 mm
Gamma Knife 1/24/13
UPMC w/Dr. Lunsford
Officially a postie toastie!
See my treatment journal at: http://www.anausa.org/smf/index.php?topic=18291.0

arizonajack

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Back by Popular Demand
« Reply #85 on: May 14, 2018, 07:41:55 pm »
Thanks for the kind words. I'll stick around.

I added the recent MRI dimensions to the list.

No change.

I'll take stability over growth any time.

3/15/18 12mm x 6mm x5mm
9/21/16 12mm x 7mm x 5mm
3/23/15 12mm x 5.5mm x 4mm
3/13/14 12mm x 6mm x 4mm
8/1/13 14mm x 5mm x 4mm (Expected)
1/22/13 12mm x 3mm (Gamma Knife)
10/10/12 11mm x 4mm x 5mm
4/4/12 9mm x 4mm x 3mm (Diagnosis)

My story at: http://www.anausa.org/smf/index.php?topic=18287.0

notaclone13

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Re: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013
« Reply #86 on: May 14, 2018, 09:02:18 pm »
Arizonajack, so happy to see you back on the forum. Wouldn’t be the same without your wisdom, good advice and sense of humor.  Congrats on continued “no growth”.

arizonajack

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Re: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013
« Reply #87 on: January 25, 2020, 05:43:08 pm »
My, how time flies. Didn't realize how long it's been since my last post. Nothing new to report, really. My last MRI was September 2019. No change in size. Still asymptomatic (other than SSD).

I'm extending the interval. Next MRI September 2021.
3/15/18 12mm x 6mm x5mm
9/21/16 12mm x 7mm x 5mm
3/23/15 12mm x 5.5mm x 4mm
3/13/14 12mm x 6mm x 4mm
8/1/13 14mm x 5mm x 4mm (Expected)
1/22/13 12mm x 3mm (Gamma Knife)
10/10/12 11mm x 4mm x 5mm
4/4/12 9mm x 4mm x 3mm (Diagnosis)

My story at: http://www.anausa.org/smf/index.php?topic=18287.0

robinb

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Re: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013
« Reply #88 on: January 31, 2020, 10:43:56 pm »
Wow Jack, looks like you came on to post your update as I did. Glad you're well! All the best!
AN Diagnosed 11-2012 right side
13mm x 7.2 mm
Gamma Knife 1/24/13
UPMC w/Dr. Lunsford
Officially a postie toastie!
See my treatment journal at: http://www.anausa.org/smf/index.php?topic=18291.0

notaclone13

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Re: D-Day for ALF - Gamma Knife - January 22, 2013
« Reply #89 on: February 04, 2020, 09:03:46 am »
Thanks for the update. So glad you are doing well. Hope you keep visiting the forum because your posts have benefited and entertained so many of us.