Show & Tell With MRI Images

I have decided to become a  'frequent flyer' for Gamma Knife radio-surgery instead of qualifying as a craniotomy customer.  Although I am healthy enough to withstand a third craniotomy, the recovery is much lengthier and more difficult.  At this point, we are focused on keeping my strength up for any future treatment that may become necessary.


Since my third Gamma Knife surgery produced excellent results,  we expect an equally good outcome this time.  The tumors (# 3 & # 5 for me - if you're keeping track) which were radiated at the end of January are now almost completely gone.

Previously, they were much larger at around 2 cm each and now you can barely see them in the MRI from April 13th (radiation target # 1 pictured above and target # 2  seen on the left).








 
In addition, only one of my two new tumors - the larger one at approximately 1 cm (pictured to the right) - is resectable.  It is located right at the top of my brain, just under my skull, making the neuro-surgery to remove it only a 1 or 2 on the difficulty scale.  However, the tumor bed would still need to be radiated a few weeks after the craniotomy.







While the second tumor (seen to the left) is much smaller - only 2 mm in size - it is so deep in my brain, it is considered to be a 4 or 5 on the difficulty scale and not a candidate for removal by resection. 
 Both of the two new tumors (# 6 & # 7 for me - if you're counting) easily fall in the limit for Gamma Knife and should remain so because only 2 weeks have passed since they were discovered.

 



Tumor # 4 (in the image on the right) was left to qualify me for the drug trial (target #3).  It acts as the tool for demonstrating how well the chemo pill Vemurafenib is working for me  If it is effective, it should shrink the tumor - which it did by more than 50% during the first drug cycle, or hold it steady - which it did during the second cycle. It originally was over 1 cm and is now around 4 mm.



Keith and I will be heading down to Karmanos on Monday morning and we expect to be home sometime in the afternoon for me to begin my current 'medical stay-cation'.  Hopefully, I will return to work by mid-May.