2yo with pilocytic astrocytoma

Nurses General Nursing

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A friend of mine has recently had the bad news that his 2yo daughter has a pilocytic astrocytoma located in the posteria fossa.

It is pushing against her cerebellum.

They operated and were unable to get to the tumor just drained off the fluid sack around it and put in a shunt to relieve the intracrainal pressure.

I have heard that in the US they have a succesful proccedure called the Gamma Knife.....has anybody heard of that ?

without the the tumor being removed it will just regrow and although benign it is a terminal condition.

Have any of you nursed a child with this condition ?

She has double vision, lost her balance , nausea, headaches, leg weekness. that have not resolved 6weeks post op.

any information would be appreciated

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Our hospital has a gamma knife, but I'm sorry I know nothing about it other than the words. There's one in Hawaii with a little information on this site.

http://www.gammaknifehawaii.com/profile.html

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

See the PM I just sent also.

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Thanks for the links !

I cannot believe that that is the best we have and it was invented in the 1960's. unfourtunatly Australia is listed as one of the countries resistive to the use of the treatment ! after all this time and with so many people benifiting from it....I'm appauled !

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We have Gamma-knife too, try the link: http://www.akh-wien.ac.at

That is the biggest hospital (university) in Austria and I know they have been using the Gamma-knife on many people, who didn't have much hope anymore.

Sorry for yoour friend and her little girl.

Take care, Renee

edited to correct the adress

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Specializes in CVOR,CNOR,NEURO,TRAUMA,TRANSPLANTS.

This is one I have heard about and he is well in demand with his Gama Knife experience.

http://www.cpmc.org/physicians/onephysician.cfm?ID=1127

I havent heard much about this surgeon but he may be worth contacting.

http://www.cpmc.org/physicians/onephysician.cfm?ID=1131

In what area are you looking in? And how soon do you need the info? Yesterday?

Zoe

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Specializes in Pediatric Rehabilitation.

I've cared for many kids with this diagnosis..

don't know much about the gamma knife..

but the prognosis on the kids I cared for was very poor. So sorry..my heart goes out to your friend.

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