Bob Benner loves taking an active role in his son's sports. Right now, Benner, 53, is sidelined, recovering from a life-threatening condition.
"Pounding headaches. The sun hurt. Hit a bump in the car, it hurt. Headaches all the time," Benner said.
Doctors diagnosed Benner with cancer in his back, and another tumor deep in his brain. The idea of brain surgery was frightening.
"Are you going to be able to talk afterwards? Walk?" said Benner. "Are you going to lose your sight?"
A new tool is now giving surgeons options where none had existed before. The brain path allows doctors to reach deep areas in the brain, without disturbing critical nerves and tissues.
Using computerized mapping of the brain, surgeons make a small opening and insert the tube.
"The brain is not a smooth surface, so we then go through one of the valleys of the brain," said Dr. Jeroen Coppens, department of neurosurgery specializing in vascular neurosurgery and neurooncology at St. Louis University Hospital.
Doctors can see the tumor using cameras in a port. The brain path also allows doctors to remove the lesion.
"The tumors can be anything from the size of a pea to the size of a golf ball," Coppens explained.
When doctors remove the tumor and the brain path, the brain tissues move back into place leaving just a small scar.
Benner's cancer is in remission. Now, he's looking forward to cheering on his son next season.
Doctors said the brain path can also be used effectively for patients with hemorrhagic or bleeding stroke, which can result in brain damage, paralysis, or death.
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