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CHRISTINA STOKER
Patient

When Rancho Margarita resident Christina Stoker suddenly lost the hearing in her right ear and began suffering from severe headaches and loss of balance, she was understandably alarmed. After several months of seeing doctors who attributed her symptoms to stress, allergies, an infection and teeth grinding, Stoker contacted a neurologist at her local hospital.

After having CT and MRI scans, the mother of two young children learned that she had a tumor a little larger than a golf ball at the base of her skull, impacting her brain stem and the cranial nerve responsible for hearing. Surgical access to this area is extremely challenging due to the complex anatomy of the skull base and the tumor’s position deep within the head near important brain structures.

Stoker was referred to a neurosurgeon at her community hospital. Meanwhile, she learned about the neuro-oncology program at UC Irvine Medical Center. The Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of only 39 National Cancer Institute-designed centers in the nation. Anxious to explore her options, Stoker made an appointment to see a UC Irvine Medical Center neurosurgeon. “I immediately knew I was in good hands and that he really cared about me,” she says. “He even asked me about symptoms I hadn’t noticed, such as my eye twitching when I looked to the right.”
 
During the next four weeks, Stoker had numerous tests to confirm the location and type of tumor, including how it was impacting nearby structures.  Soon after, UC Irvine Medical Center neurosurgeon Dr. Mark Linskey and his colleagues performed a delicate, eight-hour procedure to remove Stoker’s tumor. Using a state-of-the-art intraoperative brain navigational system, they were able to remove the entire growth while preserving important nearby structures.

To ensure the best outcomes, the neurosurgery team worked closely with a multidisciplinary team of neuro-oncologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, neuroradiologists, neuropathologists, radiation oncologists and ear, nose and throat specialists at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Today, Stoker is back to work. “I treasure the time I spend with my husband and two sons,” says Stoker. “I thank UC Irvine Medical Center’s neuro-oncology team for saving my life.”

     Learn more about Dr. Linskey »