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Joined: 8/17/2009
Posts: 7
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I've been diagnosed with a skull base schwanoma, 3.5x2.8 cm. It is located on nerve 10, but affected 9, 11 and 12. I have a right vocal cord paralyses. I am 55 y.o. I consulted with doctors at Penn and at Cranial Base Center in New York. Both doctors do not recommend surgery due to consequences. Radiology seems the only option. Radiology professor at Penn told me that it will take 6 weeks/5 days a week. As a result, I might loose hearing in right ear, weekness, hair lose. Doctor in New York mentioned CK. Am I a good case for CK? What are pluses and minuses of this procedure? I wonder why they don't talk about this at UPenn?
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Joined: 10/10/2008
Posts: 2347
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I have not seen the scans, but most schwannomas are better controlled with CK than with standard radiation. SIde effects are usually less. THey don't talk about it at Penn because they don't have it and there is no point in discussing things they cannot do.
Clinton A. Medbery, III, M.D.
St. Anthony Hospital Cyberknife Center
(405) 272-7311
buddy@swrads.org
Mail to:
Clinton A. Medbery, III, M.D.
Southwest Radiation Oncology
1011 N. Dewey Ave. #101
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
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Joined: 8/17/2009
Posts: 7
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Thank you, Dr. Medbery. What side effects of the CK may I expect? I keep reading on the forum about swelling, hearing loss, etc. Am I wrong to think that the size of my tumor is such that it cannot be controlled by CK? I was so convinced that a surgery is the best way to get rid of the benign tumor that I have difficult time to adopt the idea that radiation treatment (without removing the main source of the problem) is the best way to go. I feel that I don’t have much more time for W&W, but have difficult time making a commitment.
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Joined: 10/10/2008
Posts: 2347
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Hearing loss occurs in 15-25%. Some patients get swelling which gives a sensation of fullness or pressure ni the ear. Some patients experience balance issues. Ringing in the ear can occur.
Surgery carries about a 10% risk of CSF leak, 3% risk of re-operation, higher risk of facial weakness (15-20% vs. less than 2% for CK).
I thought it was men that had a problem with commitment.
Clinton A. Medbery, III, M.D.
St. Anthony Hospital Cyberknife Center
(405) 272-7311
buddy@swrads.org
Mail to:
Clinton A. Medbery, III, M.D.
Southwest Radiation Oncology
1011 N. Dewey Ave. #101
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
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Joined: 8/17/2009
Posts: 7
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My first Ck treatment is scheduled on Monday, September 21st. Meanwhile, my symptoms are getting noticeable worse. I have a strong headache after a day at work (I am an architect). Last Saturday I spent the whole day in bed trying not to move my head so the pain will go away (it did and I was fully functioning on Sunday). The CK Philadelphia is now working on my plan treatment. They think the treatment might take between 3-5 days. The question: I am scheduling meetings a few hours after the 1st session. Am I overly optimistic? Can I expect that headeache and noise in my ears will go away after the treatment is complete? Thanks a lot.
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Joined: 10/10/2008
Posts: 2347
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The noise in your ears will almost certainly not go away soon, if at all. It generally becomes less bothersome over time.
THe headache may not go away immediately either. You should talk with your doctors about whether a course of steroids is indicated.
Clinton A. Medbery, III, M.D.
St. Anthony Hospital Cyberknife Center
(405) 272-7311
buddy@swrads.org
Mail to:
Clinton A. Medbery, III, M.D.
Southwest Radiation Oncology
1011 N. Dewey Ave. #101
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
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