Author Topic: Side effects from gamma knife  (Read 32957 times)

skamper

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Side effects from gamma knife
« on: January 24, 2013, 07:05:02 pm »
Hello all,
I had the gamma knife done last Wed and am wondering if what I'm experiencing the last couple days is side effects or not.  I've called the office twice but they don't seem concerned which is a good thing, I'm just curious.
I missed work yesterday due to a horrible headache that was off the chart.  I slept until 2:00 yesterday which was very unusual for me.  Today I noticed that my face around my cheek bone feels numb or sorta tingly on the AN side.  Then a little while I ago, I went to try find the screw sights in the back of my head, I found I can't feel part of my head in the back.  About the location of the radiation.
Did anyone else have any of these side effects or am I just losing my mind?  It wouldn't be the first time I've gotten worked up ;)
Thanks,
Susan
Diagnosed 12-09
AN right side 2.3 x 2.6 x 1.9
97% balance loss, minimal hearing loss
Surgery 4-2-10 at Methodist Hospital, Dr. Long and Moore
1.5 cm tumor left on 7 nerve.  Gamma knife 1-2013

PaulW

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Re: Side effects from gamma knife
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2013, 07:22:38 pm »
I had single session CK and my neurosurgeon told me that I may get a headache, and it could last up to 4 days!
About 4 hours after CK I did get a horrible headache, but only to half my head.
I was thinking OMG this is going to be really crap if I need to put up with this for 4 days.
30 minutes later thankfully it was gone never to return.

While I didn't have GK I gather numbness at the screw sites is not unusual.


10x5x5mm AN
Sudden Partial hearing loss 5/28/10
Diagnosed 7/4/10
CK 7/27/10
2/21/11 Swelling 13x6x7mm
10/16/11 Hearing returned, balance improved. Feel totally back to normal most days
3/1/12 Sudden Hearing loss, steroids, hearing back.
9/16/13 Life is just like before my AN. ALL Good!

arizonajack

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Re: Side effects from gamma knife
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2013, 07:51:07 pm »
Some people in another thread have reported scalp numbness that lasted a week.

I haven't experienced that. I had GK this week on Tuesday 1/22. Still have some soreness at the pin sites but no headaches and no ill effects.

No clue as to the facial thing.
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: Side effects from gamma knife
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2013, 08:02:30 pm »
I had GK this morning. Numbness all gone, just some soreness at pin sites.
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

skamper

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Re: Side effects from gamma knife
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2013, 08:08:33 pm »
Thanks everyone, I think the numbness on my head is pretty normal.  I tried finding side effects online but got discouraged when I couldn't find anything.
I'll hang in there and hope it doesn't last long :)
Susan
Diagnosed 12-09
AN right side 2.3 x 2.6 x 1.9
97% balance loss, minimal hearing loss
Surgery 4-2-10 at Methodist Hospital, Dr. Long and Moore
1.5 cm tumor left on 7 nerve.  Gamma knife 1-2013

GM

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Re: Side effects from gamma knife
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2013, 03:29:54 am »
I had scalp numbness around the GK pin sites for about a week and a half.  Kinda like the numbness that you  get at the dentist...just in my scalp.  I was tired, like I just did a whole bunch of yard work outside.  That too went away after two days.  I didn't have any headaches.  Are you on a steroid treatment?  Hang in there, it'll get better!

Gary
Originally 1.8cm (left ear)...Swelled to 2.1 cm...and holding after GK treatment (Nov 2003)
Gamma Knife University of Virginia  http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/clinical/departments/neurosurgery/gammaknife/home-page
Note: Riverside Hospital in Newport News Virginia now has GK!!

michaela

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Re: Side effects from gamma knife
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2013, 02:56:32 pm »
hello,

i am a non-headache person, still after the GK-treatment, i had a very foggy head and headaches for about a week. actually, i was unable to work or even to respond to private emails. i never really understood whether the cause was the quite long-lasting radiation (my AN was about 6,7 ccm at the time of the treatment) or the screws and tight frame. but i can assure you, it goes away!

michaela

arizonajack

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Re: Side effects from gamma knife
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2013, 07:14:56 pm »
my AN was about 6,7 ccm at the time of the treatment

Every time I look at that it makes me jump for a second until I see the extra "c" that means volume instead of dimensions.

Gonna take me a while to get used to that I guess.

 ;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

Tumbleweed

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Re: Side effects from gamma knife
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2013, 08:33:31 pm »
I had CK (similar to GK). For about 24 hours or so after my 3rd and final treatment, my skull (scalp on the back of my head) felt numb. The tingly sensation on your cheek might be due to cranial-nerve V (the trigeminal nerve) irritation caused by the radiation. I wouldn't worry at all about the numbness in the back of your head; it should resolve shortly if it hasn't already. But your doctor should be informed about your tingly cheek. They might recommend a course of steroids if they deem it to be a concern.

Hope you feel better soon,
TW
L. AN 18x12x9 mm @ diagnosis, 11/07
21x13x11 mm @ CK treatment 7/11/08 (Drs. Chang & Gibbs, Stanford)
21x15x13 mm in 12/08 (5 months post-CK), widespread necrosis, swelling
12x9x6 mm, Nov. 2017; shrank ~78% since treatment!
W&W on stable 6mm hypoglossal tumor found 12/08