Kerry S. - Got Some Info for You on Brain Tumor Treatment - Please Read

Sundanceh
Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Kerry

I found some information on brain tumor treatments as I was doing some studying tonight - wanted to share this with you, good info to have as you plan your next step. Take care!

IMRT - is short for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. The intensity of the radiation in IMRT can be changed during treatment to spare more adjoining normal tissue than is spared during conventional radiation therapy. Because of this an increased dose of radiation can be delivered to the tumor using IMRT. Intensity modulated radiation therapy is a type of conformal radiation, which shapes radiation beams to closely approximate the shape of the tumor.


Stereotactic radiosurgery machines (like the Gamma Knife® and high-level linac technology) are able to complete treatment in one session due to their precision and ability to immobilize the target area within the brain better than we can immobilize targets within the body.

If a brain tumor patient is not a candidate for one-session stereotactic radiosurgery, he may be a candidate for one- or multi-session radiation therapy treatments utilizing high-level linac radiation machines. Conformal radiation and IMRT are a significant step forward in treatment and control of body cancers, with less damage and side effects.

The brain is treated with IMRT when one-session radiosurgery is not appropriate or unavailable.

Treatment with IMRT or other conformal radiation always involves a radiation oncologist and physicist. Should the treatment site be within the brain, a neurosurgeon is required to be a part of the team and the patient should insist upon it.

So, GammaKnife is the preferred way to treat a brain tumor (stereotactically), but if that is not possible, then IMRT could be used in sessions and as this article talks about, can be successful as well.

Just wanted you to have some information before you head in for your consultation. Continued best of luck.

I'm doing this IMRT for my current lung tumor - six weeks, 30 treatments and 5fu pump. I've done convential radiation and I've done stereotactic radiation with CyberKnife on the liver as well. Anything beats convential radiation.

BTW, I've told all the deer in your area to "Run, Forest, Run!" LOL:)

-Craig

Comments

  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #2
    Good info
    That's some good information right there, Craig. You always have so much to share with us!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    #3
    Thanks Craig

    Love the good info like you just gave me. That is the one problem living in the woods, slow speed internet. 26K is our high speed. Research is very hard to do. Thank God this site is slow speed friendly.

    One good thing about thinning the deer herd is my son donated 2 good size bucks to feed the hungry in our area. We get the sport of it and some well deserving folks get the meat. This is a program run by the Missouri Conservation Department.

    Kerry
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #4
    Kerry S said:

    Thanks Craig

    Love the good info like you just gave me. That is the one problem living in the woods, slow speed internet. 26K is our high speed. Research is very hard to do. Thank God this site is slow speed friendly.

    One good thing about thinning the deer herd is my son donated 2 good size bucks to feed the hungry in our area. We get the sport of it and some well deserving folks get the meat. This is a program run by the Missouri Conservation Department.

    Kerry

    LOL:)
    That's a good thing, Kerry - sounds like a win-win situation for everyone and feeding people is certainly that...you know I was just giggin' you - not as funny as you, but I throw one out there every now and then, couldn't resist the open layup:)

    Your welcome too - hope some of this will be able to help you - I've been thinking alot about your situation and you were on my mind tonight. I want you to get better and stick around here for a long time.

    Look forward to hearing what you find out.

    -Craig

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