As I mentioned on my previous (and first ever post), I have been diagnosed with a 2.1cm - 2.2 cm (depending on which OT you ask) AN. I am new to the forum. I need your wise and experienced help in a decision I may have to make soon.
Though I am not yet committed to CK as a treatment option, I am leaning to that end on the grounds that I can always have the surgery, but would really like to try to avoid it, if possible (of course, I am overly simplifying these issues to summarize). I may be moving to the SoCal area within the next 6 months - House anyone?. If I take a wait and see approach until I relocate, if I have a growth spurt, I could, at least theoretically, work my way out of radiotherapy as an option. If I delay, at a minimum, I could be living with a larger rather than smaller AN into the future. This creates a smaller buffer of room and time for brain stem or other impingement if growth resumes. The problem (which you can guess at this point) is that I could fragment my treatment between a CK locally and then try to "transfer" the monitoring and then possible later surgery to House. Alternatively, I could travel to Stanford and "transfer" the rest to House or wait (with the above delay problem, which includes time to get situated) and even do GK or CK with House and continue with it for the balance of future treatment. Of course, I don't like any of these scenarios and prefer to just be able to treat with Chang or House from cradle to grave (no pun intended - sorry trying to maintain some modicum of humor).
Have any of you had similar dilemmas or, at least, traveled to Dr. Chang or House and resumed the balance of treatment locally? Or have any of you found a way to do the treatment at House or Dr. Chang long distance to some degree? If so, could you please share those experiences with me (and others on this board). What would you do?
Any help/thoughts are really appreciated during this difficult time (for us all).
Richard
P.S. I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!