Radiation Oncology Expands At NWH With The New Gamma Knife Surgery

Hello visitor! Thank you for taking the time to read this article.


Northern Westchester Hospital is excited to offer the latest cutting edge technology in gamma knife radiosurgery. The gamma knife procedure has been used on over 600,000 patients from all over the world. There is actually no knife used or incision made during the gamma knife procedure; instead, the technique is non-invasive and uses radiation to treat brain tumors, functional disorders and vascular disorders. The gamma knife differs from the traditional way of radiation oncology because it concentrates just on the areas that need treatment.

What is gamma knife surgery?

The gamma knife procedure is used on the brain to treat malignant or benign brain tumors, pain from cancer, facial pain, arteriovenous malformations and uveal melanoma. The gamma knife procedure has also been given to individuals who suffer from epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, glaucoma and obsessive compulsive disorder. What makes the gamma knife procedure popular and effective is the way the treatment is conducted. Patients do not experience any pain and can go back to work and resume normal activities within just a few days. Gamma knife radiosurgery is completed in one day, rarely requires an overnight stay and is performed with the patient under local anesthesia.

What to Expect Before, during and after the gamma knife surgery?

Candidates of this type of treatment will be referred to specialists by their physicians. Before gamma knife radiation, the medical team will take an MRI, CT scan and/or an Angiography to view the brain and pinpoint the areas that need radiation oncology treatment. Once the images have been taken, the team, consisting of a neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist and physicist, will create a plan of treatment using specific software. This may take an hour because the team must input their data into the computer to direct the gamma knife radiation to the specific areas that need treatment.

Once the plan has been mapped out, then the patient will be taken to a room to sit on a couch. After local anesthesia has been given, a lightweight head frame will be placed on the patient's head. During the gamma knife procedure, the patient will still be awake, but the doctors will be in another room while the gamma knife radiation from the machine works to treat the areas of concern. This gamma knife procedure will last anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour. During this time, the patient will not feel any pain and will be able to listen to music and/or communicate with the doctors through a video and audio system. Unlike traditional surgery to the brain, the hair on the head does not need to be shaved.

After the gamma knife radiosurgery is complete, patients will be taken out of the machine, and the head frame will be removed. Depending on the type of treatment, some patients may need to stay overnight, but most patients can resume all normal activity within the next few days. Every patient should relax at least 12 to 24 hours after gamma knife radiosurgery. The physician will discuss the effects of the gamma knife procedure with the patient. For tumors, the gamma knife radiation is meant to alter the DNA of the cells and tissue and help the tumor to diminish, become stable or decrease in size. The results of the gamma knife surgery may take days or years. MRI scans are performed to follow up on the progress of the patient.

The Surgical Team

The surgeons who perform the gamma knife radiosurgery at Northern Westchester Hospital include Dr. Deborah Benzil, Dr. JulieChoi, Dr. Alain DeLotbiniere, Dr. Ezriel Kornel, Dr. Thomas Lee, Dr. Erik Parker, Dr. Saran Rosner, Dr. Michael Stiefel and Dr. Alfred Tinger. Their work has been featured in MD News, and thousands of patients have testified to the success of their gamma knife radiosurgery.

Testimony of Success

Grace Delfino underwent the gamma knife surgery after 15 rounds of traditional radiation oncology were unsuccessful in terminating or decreasing the size of her brain tumors. She was comforted by the professionalism and kindness of the doctors, and with one round of gamma knife radio surgery, three of her tumors diminished, and the largest one decreased in size. The doctors at Northern Westchester Hospital strive to put their patients at ease because they know that brain surgery is a scary and sensitive matter. Their kindness, expertise and technology have helped thousands of patient's lead healthier lifestyles.



Cancer - The Problem and the Solution:

* Discover The Truth About Cancer And How To Eliminate Sickness And Disease Naturally. More details

* Cancer: From Diagnosis To All Clear In 11 Months. More details

* Treating Prostate Cancer Naturally. More details

0 comments:

Post a Comment

 

Copyright © Health And Cancer Solutions Design by O Pregador | Blogger Theme by Blogger Template de luxo | Powered by Blogger