Vancouver BC radiation ?

[Mikey]

   Hi  Everyone , I would like to hear from anyone that has been through the radiation treatment in Vancouver  Canada . I have an 8mm  left side AN. Some hearing loss,  am recovering my balance . I hope to have a second mri this spring to see if things have changed. It sounds like the cancer clinic in Vancouver has current equipement . Would like to hear about anyones experience with this facility.   As a side note,  If this little  #@%*&#   is figuring on setting up house in my head and feeding off of my brain he is going to starve to death !

[sgerrard]

Hi Mikey,

I can't say I have even been to Vancouver, Canada, let alone been to the clinic there. But I have heard that the variation in treatment quality for radiation facilities is not as broad as it can be for surgery. If the teams have a reasonable amount of experience in radiation treatment, and know how to use the equipment correctly, the results are very similar from one clinic to another. Do you know what kind of radiation treatment they do at that clinic?

Steve

[Mikey]

 Hi Steve ,the BC  Cancer  site says they use  SRT  , stereotactic radiation therapy . Either in a single high dose or multiple smaller doses .I did read that they have a new mask rather than frame as restraint during treatment ?  I will email / phone them and ask for more specifics. The questions and answers on this site will give me a start .  Thanks , Mikey

[candtlaw]

Mikey, that sounds like CyberKnife surgery. I may be wrong but I had a mask with my radiation therapy and it was ck. I have been told that ANs are a fairly "easy" procedure for the docs. I agree if they have been trained properly which I am assuming that they are.... you shoule be fine there   There is a CK board as well and the docs there are great. I bet they know of the faclitly that you are speaking of.... GL

[okiesandy]

Dr. Clinton Medbery will be going to Vancouver BC soon to give a talk. Usually this is followed by the announcement that city will be getting CK or has just gotten it. By all means go on the CK forum and ask or look at the list. Medbery is my doctor and he is the easiest person in the world to talk to. Besides he is named repetedly as one of the nations top 100 doctors.

[elise]

think very SERIOUSLY about the FACT that GK treatment limits you to a surgical option only if the graoth continues some time in the future ( mine did ) and that GK treatment complicates later surgery tremendously

[ppearl214]

think very SERIOUSLY about the FACT that GK treatment limits you to a surgical option only if the graoth continues some time in the future ( mine did ) and that GK treatment complicates later surgery tremendously

Hi elise,

for the most part, you are correct. I do know of discussions from Dr. Noren in Providence of re-GK, if needed... yet, the success rate of most radio-treatments is over 95%, thus, the need really hasn't been there.  Unfortunately, you have had to endure and I'm sorry to hear that..... You are correct that there can be complications, as with any surgery, even if post radio-treatments.... there does seem to be discussions, however, even as recent as last summer's ANA Symposium in Philly of retreat by radio-treatments.  One reason many choose CK is due to the fact that it can be redone if needed.   Lightly touched upon, but yes, re-treat by radio- is not ruled out.

Please hang in there... I know you've had a tough time, but sending you wellness huggles....


Phyl

[jb]

I poked around a little and found that the San Diego Gamma Knife Center may also offer a retreatment option.  Here's a direct quote from their website:
"Reports of re-operation on individuals treated by Gamma Knife being more difficult or dangerous are unsubstantiated. Re-operation is quite rare and failure of control may be retreated by radiosurgery."
I've read that Dr. Steiner at UVA has also done some repeat GK, but not certain that was on AN.