Emma says choosing Gamma Knife to treat her brain tumor “felt like a miracle”

Although she’s a fan of horror movies, Emma wasn’t prepared for the shock she received with a diagnosis of petroclival meningioma, or the surprise of how easily it was treated with Gamma Knife

When Emma experienced a persistent sensation of pins and needles in her feet, she didn’t really think it was anything serious. Her family doctor, however, thought it could be the onset of multiple sclerosis. They were both wrong. After a visit to a neurologist, she learned that she had a petroclival meningioma, a slow-growing tumor that occurs deep within the center of the skull base. Meningioma’s are generally considered to be benign, but in Emma’s case, because of its position and potential to displace the brain stem as it grew, it could have been fatal.

“I was shocked when the neurologist explained I had a tumour,” she says. “And, of course, I googled the condition to learn all I could, which only worried me more.”

Emma’s concern is understandable. Surgical removal of a petroclival meningioma is quite difficult, with the risk of damaging nearby vulnerable nerves and blood vessels, leading to permanent neurological effects.

“I knew very little about radiosurgery before my treatment but was told that it didn’t involve any cutting and is designed to stop the lesion from growing or even shrink it.”

“Fortunately, I learned early in my journey that surgery wasn’t the only option; I was also eligible for Gamma Knife treatment. I knew very little about radiosurgery before my treatment but was told that it didn’t involve any cutting and is designed to stop the lesion from growing or even shrink it.”

Again, she researched this treatment and learned that radiosurgery with Gamma Knife had excellent results and that her hospital stay would be hours, not days. Despite her preparations, she felt a little apprehensive when she arrived at Queen Square Radiosurgery Centre in London, England. “But I had an excellent neurological team and found the Senior Therapeutic Radiographer especially supportive and reassuring.”

After local anesthesia took effect, Emma had a frame fixed to her head to keep it perfectly still during the Gamma Knife treatment.

“I chose to skip the sedative medication, which might have made the frame experience a little more pleasant, but to be honest, it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. As for the actual treatment, it was easier and more relaxed than I’d anticipated. Considering how invasive and time-consuming open brain surgery is, radiosurgery is quite remarkable.”

The actual procedure lasted about an hour, giving Emma time to listen to a podcast and plan her next vacation – a solo trip to Vienna, Austria.

“I was warned that I’d probably have a headache for a short while afterwards. They were right, and though it was a little painful, it didn’t last long. And that was it! I could go home and continue my daily walks that I so love and maybe watch a good horror movie – my guilty pleasure.

“Having a tumor next to your brain stem is unsettling to say the least. Having Gamma Knife as an option felt like a miracle. But I wish more people were offered this treatment.”

“It’s incredible, really. Having a tumor next to your brain stem is unsettling to say the least. Having Gamma Knife as an option felt like a miracle. But I wish more people were offered this treatment. My team at Queen Square Radiosurgery Centre told me that many medical professionals are not aware of the range of different conditions it can treat.”

Leksell Gamma Knife is clinically proven to treat indications in the brain ranging from very small lesions or tumor sizes of a millimeter to several centimeters without the need for open brain surgery. It can be used to treat cancerous and non-cancerous tumors and an array of neurological disorders.

Asked if she has any advice to people who might be in a similar situation, Emma says: “Read and learn as much as you can about your condition; have confidence in your medical team; and if Gamma Knife treatment is offered to you – take it.”

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