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Location, Location, Location: How Access to Specialized Radiation Changed an Appraiser’s Life

A real estate appraiser for 27 years, Brent Loupe is no stranger to the value of location. So when the 61-year-old’s surgeon recommended the Gamma Knife Icon at Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center to treat a tumor on his pituitary gland, Brent was relieved.

“Years ago, my mom was actually treated with an older version of Gamma Knife technology in another state,” said Brent. “I was familiar with its effectiveness, but the difference was that she had to go all the way to Philadelphia to get treatment. So you can imagine how thrilled I was that the Cancer Center, only 20 minutes away from my house, was one of just a few cancer facilities around the country to have this kind of advanced technology.”

“So you can imagine how thrilled I was that the Cancer Center, only 20 minutes away from my house, was one of just a few cancer facilities around the country to have this kind of advanced technology.”
Custom mesh mask for Gamma Knife Icon Treatment
Custom mesh mask for Brent Loupe for Gamma Knife Icon treatment

Brent met with a care team at the Cancer Center led by radiation oncologist Dr. Maurice King to learn more about the Gamma Knife Icon, then had three treatments in July of 2018. He listened to music during each 30-minute Gamma Knife session while practicing deep breathing, a technique that helps patients both relax and focus on keeping as still as possible, ensuring the radiation’s accuracy.

The treatment is totally noninvasive, so Brent went to work a few hours after receiving each treatment. And in January of 2019, he and his family received the best news.

“There was nothing like hearing that the Gamma Knife worked,” said Brent. “Because of the treatment, they got it all, the tumor is shrinking, and it will continue to shrink. I’m so thankful that I could get this quality of care right here in Baton Rouge at a place where the compassion, expertise and technology are all top-notch.”

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

Gamma Knife Icon is available at Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center in Baton Rouge. Learn more by visiting conquerdifferently.org, or call 877-756-9418.

  • 61-year-old Brent Loupe needed radiation to treat a pituitary tumor.
  • The Cancer Center is one of only a few facilities in the nation that has the Gamma Knife Icon technology to safely and effectively remove growths near the brain.
  • He was pleased to know he could travel only 20 minutes to receive this advanced treatment.
  • Brent had the noninvasive radiation therapy with few side effects, even working each day after treatment, and recently received the all-clear.
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