Stereotactic Gamma Ray Surgery For Extracranial Lesions And Tumors

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Stereotactic gamma ray surgery is used to treat lesions and tumors (lumps) that grow outside your head. They are abnormal cells that grow anywhere in your body, such as your lungs, liver, spine, pancreas, kidneys, and prostate. They can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancerous). Tumors can grow big, and damage tissues, organs, blood vessels, and nerves around them. This can make your organs stop working and cause problems with how your body systems work. You may lose lots of weight, get very weak, have trouble breathing, and have pain in your organs.
  
  
• Stereotaxy makes use of special scans to take pictures of your body. These pictures will clearly show the shape and location of your tumor. During gamma ray surgery, x-ray beams cross at a single point to kill the tumor cells. Normal tissues near the tumor get little or no radiation. You may have one treatment using high energy beams, or many treatments using weaker beams. You and your caregiver will work together to find which is best for you. With this treatment, your tumors may stop growing, get smaller, or go away. This may help ease your symptoms and stop your tumors from spreading to other parts of your body.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• Radiation kills tumor cells but can also damage other normal cells in your body. Your organs can swell and become painful. There is also a chance that your tumor may come back or may not be completely removed. In some cases, a new tumor may grow after this treatment.
  
  
• You may get a blood clot in your leg or arm. This can cause pain and swelling, and it can stop blood from flowing where it needs to go in your body. The blood clot can break loose and travel to your lungs. A blood clot in your lungs can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. This problem can be life-threatening.
  
  
• Without treatment, your tumors may grow bigger and push on other structures near it. The blood or nerve supply around it may be cut off. Nearby tissues and organs may be damaged and stop working. Your tumors may also spread to other parts of your body. If this happens, your tumors become more difficult to treat and other serious problems may develop. You may have very bad pain in your back or all over your body, or organ damage. Ask your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your treatment, medicine, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Before your treatment:

• Informed consent: A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.
  
  
• Vital signs: Caregivers will check your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and temperature. They will also ask about your pain. These vital signs give caregivers information about your current health.

During your treatment:

• You may be asked to change into a hospital gown. You are taken to the treatment room and placed on a special table that can be moved to different positions. Shields to block radiation from going to other parts of your body may be put over you. Body frames, vacuum pillows, or plastic devices are used to hold your body very still during treatment. Your body frame is attached to a computer which helps point the gamma ray machine at your tumor.
  
  
• The table that you are lying on is moved inside the treatment area. MRI or CT scans are used to make sure that you are in the right position so that the beams are pointed directly at your tumor. Your caregiver sets the shape of the beams, and how much radiation your tumor will get. Lie still and relax during the treatment. If your liver or lungs are being treated, caregivers will tell you if you need to hold your breath for a few seconds, or give you other directions. The treatment should not be painful, and you may not feel any discomfort. Caregivers turn on the machine, and the beams pass through your bones and tissues and reach your tumor. Your bed is then moved out of the treatment area, and the body frame and other devices are removed.

After your treatment:

You may be taken to a room where caregivers can watch you closely for problems. Do not try to get out of bed until your caregiver says it is OK. Later, you may be able to go home, or you will be taken to your hospital room.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.