If GK not works?

[zhengcw]

Hello,

Does anyone know if GK not works - such as not stop growing, and then what the next step? surgery?
statistics said 2~3% may not work? is it correct?

Thank you very much,

-CW

[Jim Scott]

CW ~

Gammaknife radiation treatment for acoustic neuroma carries a success rate - it halts tumor growth - in something around 97% of all cases studied.  However, should it fail to stop the ANs growth, surgery would then be medically indicated.

Jim

[Sefra22]

When I had my original consultation with Dr. Noren, I asked him this same question. He told me that GK can be done again if it doesn't work the first time. I told him I had not read that anywhere, and he repled, "I guess I will have to write another paper".

Lisa

[leapyrtwins]

CW -

nothing is guaranteed in life - except death and taxes (at least if you live in the U.S.)

Even those of us who had surgery - and the docs removed the entire tumor - have a 1-2% chance of regrowth.

Generally failed radiation does mean surgery.

Jan

[chatty cathy]

This topic is exactly about me.  I had gamma knife at UTSW in Dallas 05/30/2007.  At my most recent MRI (03/10-2010)  we took all the mri's from May 2007 to present and Doctor Mickey printed pictures.  He said I was the 1 per cent that gamma knife did not work for.  In fact the tumor team is meeting today to decide my next step in this journey.  Will post more when we have more results.

[kworkman]

  I have had two GK treatments.  My first GK was Dec 2003 with a second GK March 2007.  I was told that a person could have two GK after that surgery would be next.  I am going for my yearly follow-up on Monday.  Had MRI last Monday and the results appears that the AN is decreasing in size.

[Sue]

These folks are the rarest of the rare!  It's not at all common for this to happen. 

Sue in Vancouver, USA