Hilary had a pineal gland tumour in the middle of her brain. About one year ago, she developed visual symptoms.
She had a brain operation and biopsy of the tumour. The operation was complicated by a big bleed and the surgeon was unable to retrieve a sample for analysis.
Unfortunately over the year, the MRI showed that the tumour was growing. The next brain operation was booked imminently.
Hilary's father called RCM. He gave our team 4 days to find a world class solution.
We went to work and within 4 days, we had delivered the opinions of 8 leading neurosurgeons at centres of excellence.
On Friday, we presented the options of proton beam, gamma knife or re-operation to Hilary and her family.
An email from one of the leading gamma knife surgeons in the USA suggested that his team could treat Hilary's tumour without operating. The gamma knife, which is not actually a knife, uses highly focused gamma radiation to destroy the tumour.
On Monday morning, Hilary and her father met that team. Hilary had a MRI done.
On Tuesday at 5:30AM, the team put Hilary into a special helmet. The gamma knife treatment lasted for 1 hour. By 1:30PM, Hilary was back at the hotel taking a nap. Hilary was able to avoid another brain surgery.
She and her father drove home the next day. Thankfully, Hilary has done remarkably well.
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