Tumor growth after radiation

[phx]

This didn't happen to anyone right? Just curious.

[leapyrtwins]

It is possible, and it has happened to some on this Forum. 

Unfortunately, I can't remember specific names; maybe someone else can.

Regrowth is also possible after surgery - the odds are usually 1-2%

Jan

[Jim Scott]

phx ~

There are no absolutes and certainly no guarantees with any radiation procedure (or AN surgical approaches, for that matter) but the incidents of regrowth are well down in the single numbers, making radiation treatment for an acoustic neuroma a reasonable option, if that is your choice.   Had I been offered the option (my AN was far too large for radiation) I would have very seriously considered irradiation treatment.  I did end up undergoing FSR after my surgery (a planned-in-advance procedure) and it has been quite successful.  I 'm confident your procedure would be equally successful. 

Jim

[phx]

I meant radiation resulting in tumor growing more, not as in later down the road it decides to grow again. Sorry, I don't think I'm making sense here. I gotta think how I want to word this. Thanks if anyone can understands.

[leapyrtwins]

I think I understand what you're saying.  You're concerned that radiation will make the AN grow at a faster rate than "normal".  Is this right?

I don't think radiation will make an AN do this.  It's possible that the radiation might not work - and the tumor, instead of dying, would continue to grow - but statistically the odds of this aren't tremendous.

If radiation doesn't cause necrosis, I believe the AN would continue to grow at the rate it was growing before radiation was done.

This is strictly my opinion based on what I know about radiation treatment of ANs, and admittedly I'm no expert in this area.  You should pose this question to your doctor.

Jan

[Jim Scott]

phx ~

If you're concerned that the AN will somehow increase it's growth rate due to being irradiated, I doubt that is anything to worry about.  Basically, as my radiation oncologist radiation explained it, the radiation (GK,CK,FSR) destroys the tumor's DNA, stopping it's growth and eventually killing it, entirely. Sometimes the radiation doesn't quite destroy every tumor cell so the AN re-grows. I haven't heard of a radiated tumor growing faster and I'm skeptical that this would happen. 

We want to help but for the most credible answers to questions such as this, I would suggest you pose your concerns to a radiation oncologist, as he would have better knowledge of all the possible ramifications inherent in radiation treatment for an acoustic neuroma, including possible re-growth rates.  I'd be interested in his answer to this question.     

Jim

[tenai98]

Maybe you're concerned with swelling after radiation??? From what I understand, there is some swelling but then it starts to die..die...die..die
JO
someone correct me if I'm wrong,pls

[ppearl214]

Maybe you're concerned with swelling after radiation??? From what I understand, there is some swelling but then it starts to die..die...die..die
JO
someone correct me if I'm wrong,pls

That was my thought in reading the opening post.

There is a chance of edema/swelling, post radio, that is not uncommon to many AN radio patients.  The edema can bring on symptoms such as enhanced dizziness, ear-fullness feeling, enhanced balance issues.  Should any of these occur, the AN patient should advise the radio treating team so they can do appropriate measures (ie: could order an MRI to take a look at it, prescribes steroids or anti-inflammatores, etc).

Many radio patients will report such anywhere from immediate post treatment to down the road (I've heard up to 1-1/2 to 2 yrs down) as the tumor begins its dying process.

Should one report that the AN continues to growth a good pace post-radio, there is a potential that the radio treat did not work.  Most are highly sophisticated radio treatments but, we also say "never say never". I do know of some (rare handful) that the radio treatment did not work (stoneaxe/Bob is one that immediately comes to mind... had Proton radio... last year had surgery to remove the AN).  It's very very rare for radio to not work but..... it can happen.

Hope this helps.
Phyl

[6pick]

In my consultation with Dr. Chang of Stanford, last Friday (7/29/10), he stated  that it should take approx. 2 years (that figure may be specific to me) for a tumor to die completely. By the way, if the little bugger dies too fast the symptoms can get worse (controlled with steroids), but good to know there is a correlation between the tumor death rate and the symptoms.

[ppearl214]

In my consultation with Dr. Chang of Stanford, last Friday (7/29/10), he stated  that it should take approx. 2 years (that figure may be specific to me) for a tumor to die completely. By the way, if the little bugger dies too fast the symptoms can get worse (controlled with steroids), but good to know there is a correlation between the tumor death rate and the symptoms.

dr's quoting approx 2 yrs to really be able to tell final outcomes of radio-treatments is fairly standard.  I was also quoted the same prior to my CK treatment by a different team (I was treated with CK in Boston). Now, over 4 yrs post-CK, I can look back and note that at the 2 yrs mark, we were able to confirm that things had definately calmed down it its growth and from 2+ yrs, it even continued to become more "blob-ish" as noted in my MRI films.

Dr. Chang is cream of the crop when it comes to CK.  He has the research back up info for CK and would trust his findings.

Just my 2 cents... I'm on cup #2 of coffee

Good luck in whatever you decide to do. We're here to cheer you on.
Phyl