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To the best of my knowledge, any of the radiation procedures to the brain are more inclined to do 'long term' damage to the person dependant on age...the youngest and oldest.
And I don't think the damage is as severe as before, because of what it says down the page here on amounts of radiation given in each dose. However, damage still occurs. I can't believe your doctors have not talked to you about this. Unconscionable in my opinion.
These are some of the risks I was not willing to take, so opted to have THREE Stereotactic Radiosurgies, against the advice of my radiation onc. He in fact, became quite angry with me.
I am pasting some of the info I have saved over time. I am so sorry for your mom...and your family. I can't seem to find the right words here, that express what I want to say to you. I am angry and sad this has happened. Want to hug all of you. And wish I had more to offer.
pattyz
Whole Brain Radiation
Less Likely But Serious
Temporary aggravation of tumor symptoms such as seizures or weakness
Drainage from the ears or plugging of the ears with decreased hearing
Memory loss, behavioral change and/or increased sleepiness (occurring four to ten weeks after the radiation therapy is completed and lasting for several days up to two weeks)
Cataracts and eye damage with the possibility of blindness
Severe local damage to normal brain tissue (necrosis), which may require surgery
Certain drugs used in the treatment of brain tumors may cause kidney damage. Patients are given large amounts of fluid while taking these drugs. Patients may also have tingling in the fingers, ringing in the ears, or difficulty hearing. These problems may not clear up after treatment stops.
Fluid accumulation in your middle ear may cause you to experience a feeling of "plugged" ears and decrease your hearing in the ear that is in the radiation treatment field. This fluid accumulation is usually temporary and can result from inflammation of the middle ear. Should you develop this problem, your radiation oncologist may prescribe medication to help "dry-up" this fluid. Also, your ears will be inspected for any signs of infection which may occur with the irritation and fluid build-up in the ear. An antibiotic will be prescribed should this occur.
Long term injury from radiation is much less common than the side effects noted above. Your radiation oncologist will talk to you about these less common side effects.
Risks of Gamma Knife Surgery
As with any operation, there are some risks associated with Gamma Knife surgery. Other than mild nausea or headache related to the application and removal of the guiding device, there are usually no immediate side effects of Gamma Knife treatment.
Possible delayed (3 to 18 months after treatment) transient or persistent side effects depend on the size and location of the tumor or AVM and include problems such as weakness, numbness, hearing loss, imbalance or worsening of vision.
And.............
MORBIDITY OF WHOLE BRAIN IRRADIATION
Acute: erythema in scalp, dry desquamation, hair loss, otitis media, HA, nausea and visual disturbances, due to increased ICP.
Early delayed: Somnolence syndrome (1-4 mo after XRT), due to interference in the metabolic turnover of the myelin.
Long-term effects: The literature of the early and mid-80s is flooded with papers reporting long-term side effects, such as dementia, memory loss, radiation-induced necrosis, leukoencephalopathy, in up to 50% of two year survivors. It is now known that WBXRT below 60 Gy@2 Gy/fx very seldom produces radionecrosis, although there is a strong dependency on the fraction size.
Very few patients survive longer than a year, so in general, long-term effects are not a concern, with the exception of patients with solitary brain metastasis. Because of the relationship between large fraction size and long-term side effects, the so called standard of 30 Gy/10 fractions is being challenged; in modern research protocols that include whole brain irradiation, the recommended treatment is 37.50 Gy in 15 fractions.
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