Dr. Thomas Wascher of the Neuroscience Group were able to remove most, but not all, of the tumor through traditional surgery. As a result, Bob also faced the prospect of the tumor growing back, and with it all of the symptoms that left him unable to walk or even see. Today Kathy and Bob are back at work and again enjoying a normal life. Appleton Medical Center is the only hospital in the upper Midwest outside of Minneapolis, Chicago, Madison and Milwaukee to offer this procedure. Kathy underwent sterotactic radiosurgery to kill her tumor just five days before Christmas.
Early tests indicate the treatments have been completely successful in treating their tumors.
Conventional radiation therapy delivers a uniform dose of radiation to a tumor in an effort to kill the tumor cells and prevent the spread of the disease. But for tumors in certain locations of the brain, this radiation can also damage the surrounding tissue. First, precise measurements are taken to determine the exact location of a tumor in the body. This technology finally allows us to overcome that concern. Purchase of the equipment was made possible by a generous contribution from the Appleton Medical Center Foundation.