See Web http://www.NelsonIdeas.com/GammaKnife/Surgery.html Gamma Knife Surgery Stereotactic Cancer Non Invasive Cobalt 201 port helmet Tirgeminal Neuragia Radiation Cells Surgery no incision Radio Surgery MD Anderson Brian Tumors Malignant Biopsies Treatment Side EFfects Cyberknife Therapy radiotherapy Injury imaging maping Medications Microsurgery Disorder epilepsy Parkinsons Subscribe
Tags not taking CT Scan alternative Healthcare Cost Saving acoustic neuromas pituitary adenomas, neningiomas chordomas metastases glial chondrosarcoma craniopharyngiomas Brian Nelson
New data.
Gamma Knife Surgery: No Scalpel Needed
Patients with certain types of brain tumors and disorders no longer need to “go under the knife” or endure physically draining radiation therapy to find relief. With Gamma Knife technology, doctors are able to deliver over 200 beams of radiation with scalpel-like precision directly to tumors and lesions.
Although many people have never heard of Gamma Knife, the procedure has been around for a long time. The Food and Drug Administration approved it nearly 30 years ago, and University of Maryland doctors have been administering Gamma Knife treatments for over a decade. In fact, more than 2,500 patients have come to the University of Maryland Medical Center for Gamma Knife surgery.
Unlike traditional surgery, Gamma Knife procedures don’t actually involve the use of a “knife” or scalpel. In fact, no incisions are made at all. The skull never has to be opened up.
Conditions Treated with Gamma Knife
The following conditions are among those that can be treated with a Gamma Knife.
•Benign tumors — including meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, pituitary adenomas, schwannomas, craniopharyngiomas, pineal tumors
•Malignant tumors — including metastatic tumors, chordomas, medulloblastomas, astrocytomas, ependymomas, anaplastic astrocytomas
•Arteriovenous malformations (AVM)
•Trigeminal neuralgia
•Parkinson’s disease
Gamma Knife also differs from conventional radiation therapy. Because patients are injected with such low doses of radiation, they don’t experience the side effects associated with traditional radiation therapy. In fact, several “shots” of therapy can be given during the same session, and treatment sessions can be repeated every few weeks if necessary.
Malignant Biopsies Treatment Side Effects Cyberknife Therapy Radiotherapy
Injury Imaging maping Medications Microsurgery Disorder Epilepsy Parkinsons Scalpel Procedure Epilepsy Doctor Nurse complications Blood beams intersect fractional
CT Scan alternative Healthcare Cost Saving acoustic neuromas pituitary adenomas, neningiomas chordomas
metastases glial chondrosarcoma craniopharyngiomas Brian Nelson
Gamma Knife Surgery Stereotactic Cancer Non Invasive Cobalt 201
End. Studies show strong treatment success rates; for example, local control (successful treatment of a specific site) of tumors in any brain location exceeds an average of 85%. And, despite the name, there is no blade or knife its called Gamma Knife because radiosurgery (one-session treatment) has such a dramatic and precise effect in the target zone that the changes are considered surgical. So theres no incision or blood, and minimal risk of complications.
Through the use of three-dimensional, computer-aided planning and the high degree of immobilization of the patient, the treatment can minimize the amount of radiation to surrounding healthy brain tissue. There are approximately 200 sources of cobalt-60 loaded within the treatment unit. Thousands of radiation beams can be generated from these sources with a level of accuracy of more than 0.5mm, about the thickness of a strand of hair. Individually, each radiation beam is too weak to damage the normal tissues it crosses on the way to the target. But when focused precisely on that target, the beams intersect and the combined radiation is sufficient to treat the targeted area.
Because Gamma Knife radiosurgery is so accurate, the full dose of radiation can be delivered during a single session, compared with multiple visits for linear accelerator (linac) treatments, which use lower doses delivered in fractions (fractionated treatment).
The reduction of excess radiation is important to everyone, but particularly to cancer patients who are receiving other radiotherapy treatments. For these patients, treatment of a metastatic brain tumor a cancer that has spread from the original site might have to be delayed by up to six weeks if certain less precise treatments are used.
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While Mike and Karla are at Mayo
from...My name is Dean Osborne and Pastor Mike is my pastor at Crossroad Evangelical Free Church. I asked Pastor to allow me to assist him and Karla during their time at Mayo and I wanted to share with everyone an experience my wife Kathleen and I had with some other dear friends during Christmas 2006.
Our best friends Randy and Rita live in Minnesota, where Randy is a pastor. Kathleen and I had planned to spend Christmas with them that year but Randy had the flu, or so he thought, so we stayed home. A few days later, Randy was admitted to Mayo hospital with an unknown diagnosis; it wasn’t long before he had life-altering surgery.
We headed to Minnesota after Randy’s surgery to help while he recovered in the hospital. We observed caring friends and family who wanted to help and were eager for information about Randy’s condition. Through this experience, Kathleen and I learned several things about how we could practically express our support to others in a similar situation.
All of us love them and are eager to help and encourage the family during this time. Our purpose is to serve as your point of contact to help you stay up to date and answer questions you might have.
Staying informed
- I’ll be working with Karla to post updates to the blog — at least daily — and more frequently when appropriate. Checking the blog will provide you with the most accurate information and most importantly, free up Karla to care for Mike and consult with the physicians.
- If you need to speak to Mike or Karla, want to visit the hospital or have a question, please use me as your point of contact. Call 515-238-3147 or send an e-mail to cowboytrader59@gmail.com. Please know we’re not trying to be the border patrol, we’re just trying to organize all the love.
Some practical suggestions
Many of you are wondering about the best ways you can help. Here are a few practical ideas:
- Daily expenses like gasoline, parking, eating out, etc., will quickly add up. You may wish to help cover some of these expenses. As we know from recent posts, Karla’s financial skills are amazing, but it’s still unlikely she’ll convince Mayo to pay them for the privilege of being able to operate on such a fine brain. But seriously, this is a time they need the freedom to buy what will make this trip easy for them, and as we all know, “easy” often costs more.
If you decide to do this, please make your checks payable to Karla Evans and mail them to:
Crossroad Church
P.O. Box 218
Earlham, Iowa 50072
- Most likely Mike won’t be able to enjoy flowers or balloons for several days after the surgery and they’ll be difficult to transport. We’d suggest that you hold off on sending these to the hospital at this time.
- Many of you have already sent cards and notes of encouragement. If you want to send any to the hospital, you can address them to:
Saint Mary’s Hospital
1216 2nd Street SW
Mike Evans Patient
Rochester,MN 55902
- Of course, you can always post comments to the blog.
- I’ve worked with our church to set up a team in Iowa to assist them after Mike returns home. If you live in or near Earlham and have an interest in helping, please contact me via e-mail at cowboytrader59@gmail.com. Watch for more information about this later.
On behalf of Pastor Mike, Karla and their family, thank you for your love, support and prayers. I know they have been overwhelmed by your response. We serve an awesome God and ask that each of you keep them before the Lord in prayer daily.
In His Service
Dean
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I've still got a cold.... WTF! I have not been up to much.
What do you want to hear from me? I forget what I have said... so let me know... please... pretty please?
Okay that's enough for now... C-Ya!
