I was treated by Gamma Knife in April 2019 at La Timone hospital in Marseille.

I met the neurosurgeon who offered me this treatment in view of my pathology, recurrence of a meningioma operated in 2008 ill -placed since he represses the nerves of twin sorting. So significant risk of facial paralysis.

I saw it only one faith before treatment. The consultation lasts half an hour at most. He especially addressed the part which requires using this treatment and little spoken of treatment itself.

The day I arrived. I arrived around 2 p.m. They installed me in a dilapidated room. The toilets were out of function. I was told that it was due to a water cut in the service. Obviously according to the healthcare team, it is quite common in this part of the hospital.

Then we went down to the Gamma Unit which is on the basement, with my husband, where the Gamma Knife machines are in order to meet my neurosurgeon and the medical physicist. We had an appointment with them so that they can explain the process of treatment.

The consultation did not last more than twenty minutes. We were in a tiny office and other patients were waiting outside.

I then went back to my room. My husband left me around 10 p.m. to go to her hotel.

The nurses offered me a calming to sleep. They inform me that I would be woken up at 4:30 am and that I should take a shower with betadine. They hope that the water cut will be restored by there. I also hoped for it.

Needless to say, I didn't close the eye of the night. I had a vague idea of ​​what I was going to do to me, which generated even more stress in my house.

I would have liked to benefit from the reassuring and benevolent speech of a caregiver in the evening at bedtime as well as in the morning before being transported to the basement. But no I was left alone (fortunately my husband stayed until at 10 p.m. with me in my room) with my stress.

4:30 am: Awakening I am told to go take a shower, I am given a hospital blouse then I am passed on 3 Xanax stamps. I'm on an empty stomach.

5 p.m.: A stretcher bearer picks me up. I am installed in a wheelchair and on the way for the installation of the headset with 5th floor.

Half sounded by the cachets and by my lack of sleep I find myself in a cold room. Fortunately, a nurse offers me a small blanket. We were 5 people waiting for the pose of the helmet.

I passed the last one.

I was asked to get up, I barely stood up and settle on a table. I was explained in 3 minutes how I was going to fix the metal helmet on my head.

For the installation of the helmet I am given to breathe euphoric oxygen then I am made four local anesthesia: two on the front of the head at the bone (occipital) and the other two behind the head (the occiput) in order to screw the stereotaxic helmet.

Fortunately, the pain is attenuated by the gas that I have been breathed and local anesthesia.

I no longer remember the duration of the helmet installation, 15 to 20 minutes I think because I was under the effect of oxygen and anxiolytics that I had been given.

Then head to the basement to pass an MRI (about 15 minutes) then a scanner (about 5 to 10 minutes).

Before that the medical physicist takes measures from my head using a rule.

9 a.m.: I am back in the room. They give me a breakfast. Difficult to eat well when you have a helmet screwed on the skull.

10 am: I am back for the treatment that will take place in the service of Gamma Unit. I am announced at that time the duration of treatment: 1 h 50.

It was a shock for me. I didn't think it could be so long.

I was told much later that the duration of treatment was a function of nature, size, and the number of meningioma.

There are two units so two people can follow treatment at the same time.

The room is very large. My neurosurgeon and a technician helped me settle in the machine box that looks like a very large MRI.

After a few preparations they set the helmet in the machine. After reassuring me, he is his team leaving in the adjacent room for treatment and its surveillance.

A camera and an intercom allow them to stay in touch with me to check that everything goes well.

We invite you to listen to music if you wish.

Then you are alone in this large room. No one should remain because of the shelves.

12:10 p.m.: Finally, I thought I will never arrive.

Too long.

The doctor and the technician remove the stereotaxic helmet for me. I am then back in my room where my husband worried me for the duration of treatment.

I don't remember having lunch. I was much too exhausted and in shock from this treatment that I did not think so “traumatic”.

Of course each Gamma Knife experience is unique. Regarding myself I do not keep a good memory of it.

I find that we do not prepare patients enough to live well if possible this non -painful medical act but which can be difficult to live for some.

There is no "psychological support" of the patient.

In addition, we are not really informed at the start of the way in which the treatment will really take place. We lack a lot of information.

Once the treatment is completed you leave in the afternoon after seeing your neurosurgeon who offers you a control meeting for 15 minutes a few months later.

4:45 p.m.: Outside the hospital after passing through the administration box.

Regarding myself I had the impression of entering and leaving a “company” to repair defective materials.

Nadia.