Cyberknife Side Effects - 1248115

sherrys
Posts:212

I searched for the answer, but am not sure I found it, so I am asking for help from you. I completed 3 cyberknife treatments on August 22. I felt fine afterwards. This past week I started getting dizzy. Sometimes when I turn my head side to side, but mostly if I roll over it bed. If feels like I am on a merry go round. I called my oncologist's office, who called the radiation onc for me. They put me on a steroid and are assuming it is from the cyberknife. It is helping tremendously, but has not relieved it completely. Is this normal? I have searched the internet but cannot find anyplace that says it is or isn't. I am worried that it may be a new brain met or some other serious complication. Thank you!

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Reply # - September 17, 2012, 10:47 AM

catdander
Posts:

Hi Sherry,
It's so excitiing to hear about you and your husband attending the summit in Nashville and touring the research site. I know you had a great time! I'm in flight and am condencing my messages so wanted to say that first.

I'm sure (layman's terms for I hope) that all is good in the brain (by your writings it soiunds so)

I will ask for input on your request and should hear back within in 12 hours (fyi, it's the new drill that brings in more great minds)

Thinking of you,
Janine

Reply # - September 17, 2012, 06:29 PM

Dr West
Posts: 4735

Cyberknife is pretty new, cancer is different in different people, and I don't think there's such a thing as "normal" -- because of these things, I don't think it's an answerable question. I do think that it's completely believable as being from inflammation around a treated area, especially if steroids helped. Good luck.

-Dr. West

Reply # - September 18, 2012, 10:01 AM

judys
Posts: 74

Hi Sherry - Just want to say that it could also be something like the BPPV (benign positional "something" vertigo) like I have. I think it's much more common in older folks like me, but I'm basically only dizzy in bed, when moving my head up and down alot or turning my head quickly. My PCP and an ENT doctor diagnosed the BPPV. I did recently have a clear brain MRI which was a big relief.

I hate the merry-go-round feeling and find myself clutching the bed at times when things are really whirling. I try to move slowly when turning, getting up and it does help. I haven't had brain mets so I can imagine how much more worrisome it is when you have. Hope the steroids do the trick and time will take care of it.

Reply # - September 18, 2012, 04:52 PM

sherrys
Posts: 212

Thanks for the reassurance Judy. You are describing me exactly - expecially the holding on in bed. I know rationally that I am not falling, but it still feels like I am.

I heard from the Cyberknife nurse today and she told me that I could experience this for up to 3 months and as long as the steriod is helping and it is not getting worse, they want me to be on it longer. I had a scary incident a little earlier today. I was at the grocery store and someone said hello to me in passing. I turned my head a little too quickly to see who it was and the store started spinning. I was holding the cart for dear life and couldn't get the spinning to stop. I could actually feel myself swaying back and forth. That's the worst it has ever been on my feet.

Thank you, Dr. West, for attempting to answer the question although I knew it was like not answerable. I guess my main question is, is being dizzy a sign of another brain tumor?

Reply # - September 18, 2012, 07:29 PM

Dr West
Posts: 4735

I'd say that while it could be, it's well within the range of what I think could be seen after treatment of one or more brain metastases. So I'd say it's possible that it could be from a new brain metastasis, but I wouldn't presume that to be the case by any means.

-Dr. West

Reply # - September 21, 2012, 05:52 AM

sherrys
Posts: 212

Thank you for your reassurance Dr. West. I am happy to say that the steriods seem to be working and that I don't spin like I was, so I am going to go with it's just from the Cyberknife. I guess you know that after you've been thru something like this, every little think makes a patient worry and panic. I cannot live my life that way. :(

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