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.

Getting Ready

The week before your treatment:

• Ask a family member or friend to drive you home after your treatment. Do not drive yourself home.
  
  
• Bring your medicine bottles or a list of your medicines when you see your caregiver. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any medicine. Tell your caregiver if you use any herbs, food supplements, or over-the-counter medicine.
  
  
• Tests: You may need x-rays, bone scans, CT scans, or MRIs to check the location, shape, and size of your tumor. Ask your caregiver for more information about these and other tests that you may need. Write down the date, time, and location of each test.

The night before your treatment:

• Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking.
  
  

The day of your treatment:

• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your procedure.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver before taking any medicine on the day of your treatment. These medicines include insulin, diabetic pills, high blood pressure pills, or heart pills. Bring all the medicines you are taking, including the pill bottles, with you to the hospital.
  
  
• You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal piece of paper (consent form). It gives your caregiver permission to do the treatment. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Be sure all your questions have been answered before you sign this form.

Treatment

What will happen:

• You may be asked to change into a hospital gown. You will be taken to the room where the treatment will be done. You will get treatment 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 molded plastic devices can be used to hold your body very still during treatment. If your liver or lungs will be treated, your caregiver will tell you if you need to take a deep breath or give you other directions.
  
  
• When your treatment starts, the special table that you are lying on will be moved inside the treatment area. MRI or CT scans are used make sure you are in the right position so that the beams point directly at your tumor. Your caregiver will set the shape of the beams, and how much radiation your tumor will get. When the machine is turned on, the beams will pass through your bones and tissues and reach your tumor. You will need to lie still and relax during the treatment. The treatment should not be painful, and you may not feel any different during it. After the treatment, your bed will be moved out of the treatment area. The body frame and other devices will be removed.

After your treatment:

You may be taken to a room where caregivers will 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.

Waiting area:

This is an area where your family and friends can wait until you are able to have visitors. Ask your visitors to provide a way to reach them if they leave the waiting area.

Contact a caregiver if

• You have a fever.
  
  
• You cannot make it to your treatment on time.

Seek Care Immediately if

• You had a seizure.
  
  
• You have sudden trouble breathing or chest pain.
  
  
• Your pain, weakness, or other symptoms get worse.

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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.