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If you have been diagnosed with a brain metastasis (cancer that has spread to the brain), you are likely weighing your treatment options. Several effective treatments are available, including whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) and Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery. But which is the best radiation therapy for you? Asking your doctor the following questions may help you decide which brain metastases
For many, a diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia is a welcome first step toward ending powerful facial pain symptoms that affect a patient’s everyday life. The next step: treating trigeminal neuralgia. Here are some of the treatment options you may consider to treat your facial pain: Medications can relieve symptoms and block the pain signals that travel from the nerve to
If you have been diagnosed with brain metastases (cancer that has spread to the brain), you’ve likely heard about several possible treatment options for your condition, including Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, whole-brain radiation and others. It’s important to choose the treatment that can give you the best possible outcome with the least number of side effects. Here’s what you can expect
When cancer has spread to the brain from another part of the body (known as brain metastases), sparing the healthy areas of the brain from radiation side effects is just as important to patients as finding the right treatment. Luckily, patients who choose Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery don’t have to choose between treating their tumors and maintaining optimal brain function.
Friday, October 7, is International Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day, a day to recognize those living with trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic condition marked by intense facial pain that can have debilitating effects on a person’s health and quality of life. Often, trigeminal neuralgia develops when the trigeminal nerve (which sends sensations from the face to the brain) is compressed by a
If you have trigeminal neuralgia, you may have been prescribed medications to reduce or block the facial pain you experience. Trigeminal neuralgia medications may include anticonvulsants, muscle relaxers or even Botox injections. However, for some patients, these medications can lose their effectiveness over time. If that’s the case for you or a loved one, Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery may help
When cancer spreads to the brain — a condition known as a brain metastasis — patients have different treatment options. Recent research has suggested that Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective primary treatment for brain metastases, with its focus on fast, precise treatment, and ability to treat multiple tumors. The Valley Gamma Knife Center’s Perfexion unit — among the
When you’re diagnosed with a serious condition like a metastatic brain tumor, the last thing you want is side effects of treatment that can further impair your health and quality of life. When Kathlene Laurel was diagnosed with a brain metastasis, the specialists at The Valley Hospital Gamma Knife Center worked with her to develop a treatment plan that kept
Imagine going from perfectly healthy one day to fighting a brain tumor the next. That frightening scenario became a reality for Steve Murphy after he unexpectedly suffered a seizure while on a business trip. Steve was diagnosed with a meningioma, a noncancerous brain tumor that develops from tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. It was an anxious and uncertain
For many years, whole-brain radiation was a mainstay in treating brain cancer metastases — when cancer from another area of the body, such as lung cancer, breast cancer or melanoma, spreads to the brain. Because the long-term survival rates were generally poor, the long-lasting treatment side effects of whole-brain radiation, like memory loss, lack of coordination and loss of urinary
If you’ve been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) you have likely experienced the symptoms that are associated with it. Most people with multiple sclerosis suffer from pain, whether neuropathic, musculoskeletal or both, which can range from mild to debilitating. While headaches, arm and leg pain, and back pain are common with MS, facial nerve pain caused by a chronic condition
CBS 2 recently reported on the positive patient outcomes and multiple uses for Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery. The report also notes that Gamma Knife technology is preferred over Cyberknife for brain tumors. Gamma Knife radiosurgery can be used for benign and malignant brain tumors, as well as trigeminal neuralgia, acoustic neuromas and other conditions. Contact our Nurse Navigator for more
How much do you know about brain tumors? In recognition of Brain Tumor Awareness Month, here are some brain tumor facts, courtesy of the National Brain Tumor Society: Nearly 7,000 people in the United States are living with a primary brain tumor. More than 69,000 people will be diagnosed with a primary brain tumor this year. Approximately 20-40% of all
The Valley Hospital Gamma Knife Center is pleased to welcome Radiation Oncologist Thomas Kole, M.D., Ph.D., to the gamma knife staff. Dr. Kole comes to Valley from Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y., where he served as an attending radiation oncologist. At the Gamma Knife Center, Dr. Kole is looking forward to using Gamma Knife Radiosurgery to treat patients who
2016 Marks 1 Million Gamma Knife Patients Treated In 1987, Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery was introduced in the United States, marking a powerful new weapon in the fight against brain tumors. Nearly 30 years later, the groundbreaking treatment is reaching a significant milestone: By the end of the year, more than 1 million patients will have received Gamma Knife treatment
The Valley Hospital’s cancer program was recently honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer (CoC). Valley was one of two hospitals in the state — and the only one in northern New Jersey — to receive this prestigious distinction. The CoC Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes cancer programs that achieve excellence in providing
Radiation Oncologist Michael F. Wesson, M.D., and representatives from The Valley Hospital Gamma Knife Center were among the participants at the Cleveland Clinic’s Ninth Annual International Symposium on Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Orlando, Fla. The event was attended by world leaders in radiation oncology, neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, spine surgery and other specialties. The Valley team had the
The Valley Gamma Knife Center’s focus on advanced care and quality patient outcomes has been recognized by the American Academy of Neurological Surgeons and the American Society for Radiation Oncology, which has chosen the Valley Gamma Knife Center to participate in its national Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) Registry. The Valley Gamma Knife Center will be one of only 30 elite, high-volume
Treating skull base tumors in the brainstem requires expertise and precision. The brainstem is one of the most critical parts of the brain, with most information for your body passing through it. Being such an important part of bodily function, performing surgery on the brainstem isn’t generally considered safe. One option that has come forward for treating brainstem metastases is
William S. Cobb, M.D., Ph.D., Subspecialty Director of Neurosurgical Oncology at The Valley Hospital and neurosurgeon at The Gamma Knife Center, will soon be presenting his research at an international conference. Dr. Cobb’s abstract, “Analysis of 348 Metastatic Lesions Treated with Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery in the Community-based Hospital Setting,” was accepted for e-poster presentation at the 18th Leksell Gamma
