Stereotactic radiosurgery - discharge

When You're in the Hospital

You received stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), or radiotherapy. This is a form of radiation therapy that focuses high-powered x-rays onto a small area of your brain or spine.

More than one system is used to perform radiosurgery. You may have been treated with CyberKnife or GammaKnife .

You may have a headache or feel dizzy after your treatment. This should go away over time.

Self-care

After you go home, follow any self-care instructions your health care provider gave you. The information below will help you remember the instructions.

If you had pins that held a frame in place, they will be removed before you go home.

• You may feel some discomfort where the pins used to be. Bandages may be placed over the pin sites.
• You can wash your hair after 24 hours.
• DO NOT use hair coloring, perms, gels, or other hair products until the sites where the pins were placed are completely healed.

If you had anchors placed, they will be taken out when you have received all of your treatments. While the anchors are in place:

• Clean the anchors and the surrounding skin 3 times a day.
• DO NOT wash your hair while the anchors are in place.
• A scarf or a lightweight hat may be worn to cover the anchors.
• When the anchors are removed, you'll have small wounds to care for. DO NOT wash your hair until any staples are removed.
• DO NOT use hair coloring, perms, gels, or other hair products until the sites where the anchors were placed are completely healed.
• Watch the areas where the anchors are still in place, or where they were removed, for redness and drainage.

If there are no complications, such as swelling, most people go back to their regular activities the next day. Some people are kept in the hospital overnight for monitoring. You may develop black eyes during the week after surgery, but it is nothing to worry about.

You should be able to eat normal foods after your treatment. Ask your provider about when to return to work.

Medicines to prevent nausea and pain might be prescribed. Take them as instructed.

Follow-up

You'll most likely need to have an MRI, CT scan, or angiogram a few weeks or months after the procedure. Your provider will schedule your follow-up visit.

You may need additional treatments:

• If you have a brain tumor, you may need chemotherapy or open surgery.
• If you have a vascular malformation, you may need open surgery or endovascular surgery.
• If you have trigeminal neuralgia, you may need to take pain medicine.
• If you have a pituitary tumor, you might need hormone replacement medicines.

When to Call the Doctor

Call your doctor if you have:

• Redness, drainage, or worsening pain at the spot where the pins or anchors were placed
• A fever that lasts more than 24 hours
• A headache that is very bad or one that does not get better with time
• Problems with your balance
• Weakness in your arms or legs
• Any changes in your strength, sensation of the skin, or thinking (confusion, disorientation)
• Excessive fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of sensation in your face