Um, how often do you get your gamma knife sharpened?
February 25, 2010 7:03 PM Subscribe
I'm scheduled for a consult with a gamma knife surgeon for treatment of a vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma). What should I ask him?
So, after some years of watching and waiting, it looks like it's time to finally so something about my VS. Based on the tumor size and some other factors, gamma knife radiosurgery looks like the best option. I know a ton about my condition, the treatment options, and the likely outcomes. But I'm at a loss about what to ask this doctor to a) learn more about his background/track-record/etc. and b) compare him against anyone else I might see for another opinion.
Any suggestions, personal experiences, etc. appreciated. Thank you!
So, after some years of watching and waiting, it looks like it's time to finally so something about my VS. Based on the tumor size and some other factors, gamma knife radiosurgery looks like the best option. I know a ton about my condition, the treatment options, and the likely outcomes. But I'm at a loss about what to ask this doctor to a) learn more about his background/track-record/etc. and b) compare him against anyone else I might see for another opinion.
Any suggestions, personal experiences, etc. appreciated. Thank you!
The Acoustic Neuroma Association has a good set of guidelines for selecting a doctor. They also have a section of their forums devoted to patients sharing information about their experience with physicians. (I work for a different nonprofit serving people with vestibular disorders that has a more general focus. Feel free to send me a memail and I can check if anyone in our office has a recommendation for a doctor in your area.)
posted by melissa may at 11:36 PM on February 25, 2010
posted by melissa may at 11:36 PM on February 25, 2010
Bring someone else with you when you meet the surgeon. No matter how well prepared you are, there is a question you will forget to ask or an answer you will not remember.
posted by drdanger at 12:51 AM on February 26, 2010
posted by drdanger at 12:51 AM on February 26, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
It's a bit esoteric, but it is topical... Ask them if they compared their commissioning data to other sites with the same devices (or manufacturer supplied data) -- there was just an "incident" related to making the set-up measurements with the incorrect instruments.
CoxHealth Issues Statement on Increased Radiation for Patients
Stupid errors made when gathering the initial data propagate through to all treatment plans. It is common to perform a second treatment plan using "hand calcs" or a separate software system, but the secondary calcs still use the initial measurement data.
In the story above, it sounds like the physicist performing the commissioning measurements used a detector that was too large when measuring the smallest radiation "beams". This, basically, under-estimated the radiation field strength of these small "beams".
posted by crenquis at 10:13 PM on February 25, 2010