HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

StephN · 08-14-2012, 03:41 PM

Denise -
Your photo is quite reassuring, since you say you have just had the headframe removed. You are NOT doubled over in pain and do not have blood gushing down your face. And the smile looks genuine.

LANI - glad you appreciate my experience. Hope others will see it.

The thing that goes on our head is called a HEAD FRAME - this is what is then attached to the HELMET that is already in place on the table in the machine.

The HELMET is like a big bowl with little holes in it where the beams come through to the area of treatment.

The head frame is VERY light weight (titanium, I think?), just a little awkward for trying to eat something (best to drink a shake through a straw), or lie back while waiting to go in the Gamma Knife machine. Being so light weight also means that the screws do not have to go on very tightly. Just enough to keep the frame in place while you wait and to attach in the helmet.

The pressure of the screws is a delicate procedure as the technicians would not want to cause a hairline fracture by too many turns of the screwdriver.

I did not have a headache and was out merrily driving around the next day.

Like Denise said - it is hearing the news that our brain has been invaded by the cancer which is the worst part. Next is the consults to see what are the possible treatments, and last nerve wracking is the MRI after the head frame is on and they are planning the treatment. That MRI will show if there are any new spots to treat. A big sigh of relief when they told me there was nothing new.

08-14-2012, 03:41 PM	#32
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: Gammaknife Managed....check! Denise - Your photo is quite reassuring, since you say you have just had the headframe removed. You are NOT doubled over in pain and do not have blood gushing down your face. And the smile looks genuine. LANI - glad you appreciate my experience. Hope others will see it. The thing that goes on our head is called a HEAD FRAME - this is what is then attached to the HELMET that is already in place on the table in the machine. The HELMET is like a big bowl with little holes in it where the beams come through to the area of treatment. The head frame is VERY light weight (titanium, I think?), just a little awkward for trying to eat something (best to drink a shake through a straw), or lie back while waiting to go in the Gamma Knife machine. Being so light weight also means that the screws do not have to go on very tightly. Just enough to keep the frame in place while you wait and to attach in the helmet. The pressure of the screws is a delicate procedure as the technicians would not want to cause a hairline fracture by too many turns of the screwdriver. I did not have a headache and was out merrily driving around the next day. Like Denise said - it is hearing the news that our brain has been invaded by the cancer which is the worst part. Next is the consults to see what are the possible treatments, and last nerve wracking is the MRI after the head frame is on and they are planning the treatment. That MRI will show if there are any new spots to treat. A big sigh of relief when they told me there was nothing new. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.