ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: CF on December 07, 2009, 01:25:22 pm
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Hello. I'm glad I found this forum / site too. Great information. Just to introduce myself: Within a year or so I noticed I was having brief, random feelings of imbalance. I thought I was imagining it, and maybe thought it was due to my allergies. However this summer, it came upon me rather strongly and consistently, I was having the feeling all day, every day. Finally I went to my PCP, who tried some antihistamines on me for 3 weeks. Didn't work, so he sent me to an ENT. The ENT also tried a similar route, assuming I had an ear infection as well. I came back after one week and my imbalance was still there. He gave me a hearing test and then told me there was nothing wrong with me. He did suggest that if the imbalance feeling got worse, to come back to him and he would write me a prescription for vestibular therapy (VT). I left the office a bit disappointed, and when I researched a bit more about this therapy, I knew it wasn't what I needed, as I am an active exerciser and the basic VT exercises would have been a piece of cake.
Needless to say I went for a second opinion (with an ENT who was experienced in vertigo), and among some other "tests", this 2nd doctor asked me to march in place with my eyes closed. It was obvious I was drifting to the right. He recommended an MRI, which I got. It showed I have a 15mm AN. I now have followup with an ENT / Neurotologist in about a week or so. I feel like my vertigo sensations have increased, I feel a bit of fullness in my affected ear, can hear ringing more frequently. I think my AN has grown in the last few weeks. ???
So now I'm just trying to get better educated so I can ask the right questions at this followup. I'm a little concerned I may have to go for surgery during the Christmas Holiday that I was going to spend with my family, but will do what I need to do, just thinking of my family.
Any suggestions welcome and appreciated.
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Hi CF!
Sorry about your discovery of an AN but sure glad you found this Forum...it is a great place to be with TONS of information and LOTS of caring people! USUALLY, acoustic neuromas are VERY slow growing and with the size of yours, you probably have some time. That being said, I would think that you would be able to enjoy your holiday plans with your family and then address your tumor.
Please make yourself at home here and ask us any question - that is what we are here for! ;)
Can you tell us a little more about yourself? Male or female? Age? What part of the country? We are a NOSEY bunch (at least I am)!!
K ;D
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Welcome CF...like K said, you don't have to worry about rushing into surgery. Most of our AN's were much larger when they were eventually removed. Mine for example was 4.7 cm x 4.5 cm when I went into surgery this past July 30th for a Left Translab. That's a giant Tumor but far from the biggest you'll hear about around here. You're certainly tuned into the correct channel. This is the place that turns the uninformed into experts, willing or otherwise, you just can't help but learn. I'm guessing way out loud here, but I'm thinking you'll probably end up having non-invasive Cyber Knife (CK) Radiation treatment if anything because your Tumor, which was caught early due to your own diligence, is still small. I had surgery and will also have CK beginning next month because roughly 56% of my Tumor remains in my head resting on my Brain Stem; with my number 5 nerve running right through it. My Doctor is in no rush to get me into the Toaster; "it's not cancerous so there's no need for you to feel the minor side effects of radiation treatment over the holidays" he said. And remember, the only stupid questions around here are the ones you don't ask...if its on your mind, ask, someone will have the answer or reference you're looking for!
Gods Speed!
;)
Doc
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Hello and welcome CF ~
I'm always sorry to learn of another person receiving the dreaded AN diagnosis but you've found the right place to visit for practical, knowledgeable advice and lots of compassionate support as you deal with this acoustic neuroma thing. That the tumor is non-malignant and treatable is the good news. As Kay ('Kaybo') mentioned, that it's slow-growing is also a plus. I would doubt you'll need to schedule surgery or radiation until after the Christmas season unless your symptoms drive you to having the AN treated sooner.
These forums contain a wealth of information and the ANA offers quite an array of easy-to-understand information, too. I would suggest sending for it.
Meanwhile, feel free to ask any question you have and use these forums as a resource. We're all AN patients (or caregivers of AN patients) and we know how you feel. We want to help and support you as you travel on this unwanted journey. Please allow us to do so. All you have to do is ask. :)
Jim
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Hi, CF.
In my case and many others, a repeat MRI was scheduled at 3-month, 6-month and one-year intervals. With no growth I was on the watch and wait plan until the 7th year when substantial growth occurred. So, you will have plenty of time to sort out your thoughts and research approaches. Don't worry. It's scary at first, but you have a lot of support here.
Nancy
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Hi CF,
If surgery is your approach, then wait and watch, its small enough, unless your symptoms get worse, especially your hearing. Once you lose your hearing, you can't get the lost bit back but you may be able to retain what you go into surgery with.
The other option is radiation treatment, be it, gamma knife, cyber knife or Linac. radiation is best treated when the growth is under 25mm and is not pressing on your brain stem.
There are loads of posts on the diifferent formas of radiation treatment.
Laz
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Hi CF,
It is rather mind blowing to hear you have this thing growing in your head, but yours is on the small side, it is benign and slow growing.
Also interesting when you find out you have the little booger, the symptoms seem to be more noticeable or dramatic.
Probably because you are on higher "alert."
Enjoy your holiday, do some research but really, things will work out.
It's just a process of figuring out which route to go.
Who is your doctor? You may find members with the same doctor.
Hang in there, there are great people here who will have all sorts of advice/opinions! No question is too stupid or silly.
Maureen
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Welcome to this Forum, CF .....
As the others have already said, your AN is on the small side and most ANs grow very slowly so you have time to do your research. However, some can be fast-growing (mine was) and some have sudden growth spurts so you need to be diligent about monitoring your symptoms. As Maureen said, take into consideration that just knowing you have a tumor can temporarily make your symptoms seem worse. That being said, if your hearing or your balance suddenly becomes much worse, it is time to alert your doctor.
I think it is unlikely you will need to make a decision on treatment before the holidays. Even if you decide on a type of treatment, it most likely will not be scheduled until January.
Let us know how you are doing. By the way, there is an excellent list of questions to take to the doctors on the ANA main web site ..... just follow the links.
Best thoughts. Clarice
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CF -
as others have said, don't jump into anything - you have time to do research and investigate your options.
If you haven't already, you should contact the ANA for their informational literature. It's very well-written and extremely helpful.
Mind if I ask which neurotologist you are seeing? Perhaps someone on the forum has been to him/her.
Jan
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Welcome CF!
There is plenty of information available on the good old WWW. More importantly, you'll find people on this forum who can assist so much with the nuances of dealing with the plethora of AN issues. Keep reading the forums and asking questions. You'll get plenty of sound advice that has been derived from first hand and practical experiences. Stay positive and build your support networks.
Cheers!
Ken
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Hi CF and welcome,
Like everyone else, I'm sorry to learn you have an AN, but glad you found us. We all understand the feeling of being overwhelmed that the AN diagnosis brings. Because yours is considered small, you should have time to enjoy the holidays with your family but it is a good idea to start learning as much as you can now. My advice is that you don't become so obsessed with it that it ends up ruining your holiday though.
Jan's suggestion that you get the informational packet from ANA is an excellent one and will give you many answers as well as questions you can ask your doc (and us) when you next see him/her. You seem to have decided on surgery, but also have the option of stereotactic radiosurgery (radiation) to treat your brain booger. Whichever you ultimately choose, make sure that you make an informed decision and that it is the right choice for YOU, not what someone else wants you to do.
Best wishes,
Wendy
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Just as everyone else has said this is mostly slow growing and you have time make sure you do alot of research and ask as many questions or as in my case I did not know what to ask so ask for suggestions or details as to what to expect. I was not feeling well 2 years ago and went through the proper channels I thought and even went for Vestibular Therapy for a different diagnosis that was given and it did not work so I continued with the fullness in my ear and excepted it. Thank goodness 2 years later I fainted a couple of times and went to another doctor and was then diagnosed with a 1 cm AN and then everything happened so fast and did not research it that well but the outcome was good. I just wanted to explain that within those 2 years a 1 cm is still relatively small so the growth was slow also so you have time to enjoy your Holidays and do your homework right after.
My prayers are with you,
Pat
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Hi
And welcome to the family...
JO
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Thank you all for the warm welcome and words of encouragement. I'm in my mid-40's, male. I really appreciate all the advice and well wishes. I have begun my research and I guess I'm looking to see what this doctor I was referred to will say after he views my MRI image ..... I somewhat feel I already know what the options will be. I'm prepared mentally, I think, for the appropriate treatment, whether it be surgery or radiation. I'm not sure I want to take the wait and see approach unless there is a chance the AN will shrink by itself (which I don't believe is an option). My balance is effected enough where I feel my quality of life has already begin to decrease. I tire easily, and the tasks I use to do around the house seem a bit more burdensome as I guess I need to exert more energy to keep my balance, and I guess that tires me out. I don't feel up to par.
I had started tracking my "symptoms" for about 3-4 weeks (no longer doing it now on paper), prior to seeing the second doctor because I knew I wanted an MRI, so I wanted to build a case for it. I rated my feelings of imbalance on a daily basis, as either LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH, and also tried to note fatigue, foods I ate, etc., because at the time I just did not know what I was dealing with. Now that I know, I feel much better that there is a physical explanation to what I was experiencing ..... some people really doubted what I was experiencing and there was no way for me to prove it (they thought I was imagining it, or it had to do with my diet, or it was allergy related).
I believe I really would like treatment sooner rather than later, and if I had a choice it would be Dec 30 or 31 lol ;D. This will give me plenty of time off with the family, and also I'll be on the same insurance deductible schedule! :o
I know this might sound premature, but I do feel I'm ready to deal with this. I think I've already cycled through my stages of denial, fear, anger .... I'm ready to get this bugger out of me! But I'm still worried a bit about the potential complications.
I'd like to know if the doctor I'm seeing is experienced in this kind of treatment. I'm not comfortable yet in sharing his name, but I might do a search on the forums to see if his name even comes up. Nonetheless I printed the questions out from the website, and I'll be sure to bring them with me.
Thanks again everyone. It's nice to know what I have, and that there are people out there who have "been there, done that".
A Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays to all of you! :)
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I'm not sure I want to take the wait and see approach unless there is a chance the AN will shrink by itself (which I don't believe is an option).
CF -
you are correct. This isn't going to happen.
However, most ANs grow very slowly. There are always exceptions (I was one), but they're few and far between.
Take your time to figure out what is best for you. AN treatment is kind of like gambling in some aspects. You never know 100% what your outcome will be. You do your research, get the best doctor you can find that you're comfortable with, weigh your odds, and then decide on your treatment.
Don't hesitate to ask us anything - that's what we're here for - or to lean on us for support. We also don't mind if you just want to vent.
And please, contact the ANA for information. You'll be glad you did.
Best,
Jan
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welcome in to the best little site for AN info around. I'm 2 years past my surgery and i see several of the other more senior folks in here telling you the details.
Know this , there is a lot of support in here. some of us had tinnitus and single side deafness b4 our diagnosis. some of us didn't. some of us weren't scared UNTIL surgery got close (that was me) :)
these are rarely cancerous and are luckily really slow growing. i went from my original diagnosis in Jul 07 to Dec. 07 b4 surgery and it hadn't grown much at all.
any question by the way is ok to ask. These folks have helped me a lot since my surgery.
welcome in
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Hi CF,
I can empathise with the feeling of just wanting to do something. My AN is larger than yours (2.9cm) and I was diagnosed in November, but the surgeons have also told me to go away and enjoy the holidays with my family and not think about scheduling surgery until February.
In some ways this has been frustrating, but one major positive of this for me has been that it has given me, and my family and friends, time and space to learn about AN and understand more about where this journey may lead next. I think this would have been more difficult if I was trying to do this and trying to organise the logistics of the surgery all at once.
Anyway I hope that the doctor was able to answer your questions and that you are able to schedule treatment for a date that you are comfortable with.
Kate
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Summary
Hey folks. An update today - met with the radiation doctor to obtain the alternate POV (vs the surgery approach). I told the doc I was hoping he could talk me out of the surgery in favor of radiation ;). FYI this doctor was clear that he generally preferred radiation for treatments, however after discussing with me my situation, he agreed that surgery was the better option. I was able to talk philosophically with this doctor, which I appreciated very much. He presented my with an objective argument, for an against, and below were the key variables that would better suggest surgery as the option. This is what I had thought originally and I'm glad the reasoning was consistent.
Why, for MY PERSONAL (and rare) circumstances, that Surgery seems to be the better approach
This was based on two key reasons (summarized below).
1. My vestibular imbalance (lowered quality of life) as key "driver" in my decision making, as opposed to hearing loss being the driver. He indicated that because my hearing is relatively intact, and that it's my balance that is "the problem", it would make sense to go with the surgery as that is more conducive to resolving the issue.
2. My age (ie, I'm a younger patient)
The rationale is that since I'm much younger (I'm 44), it would seem a more "conclusive" treatment might be best. Conclusive in the fact that the surgery is intended to REMOVE the tumor, as opposed to radiation which is not conclusive in that respect. Since I'm a younger patient, I have more "living years" ahead of me that seem to highlight more the need for conclusiveness in my treatment option. If I went with radiation, I would have that much more uncertainty spread over a much longer period of "living years". In contrast, if I were much older (say 72), then clearly radiation might be the better option. I would have much less "living years" and also I would probably be less physically receptive to surgery.
But here's a wrench that might make watch-and-see a better approach
He also mentioned he had one patient who was in similar circumstances, and after taking a steroid treatment, the apparent inflammation of the vestibular nerve was reduced such that his vestibular symptoms were eliminated, and has been so for 9 months as of date. So, before I opt for the surgery, I'm going to see if I can benefit from this week long steroid treatment to resolve the only issue that brought this whole thing to the surface: my balance. If my balance can be given back to me, then there is no reason to commit to surgery now but rather to enter the watch and wait mode ..... is the new approach I'm considering. I consider this due to an assessment of risk and timing .... the risks can be managed, and the timing is basically later rather than sooner, depending on triggers that will / may eventually surface and dictate I have surgery.
TRIGGERS THAT COULD MOVE ME FROM WATCH-AND-WAIT TO SURGERY
a- Loss of hearing: if the steroids work, then there's no reason to "rush" into surgery, is where I'm landing now. Basically, with the balance problem solved, it would have been as if I never had a problem .... would have never gotten the MRI. So, watch and wait would seem appropriate. If I then begin, at some later time, to experience hearing loss, that would trigger me to consider that surgery is now worth revisiting. This all assumes I aim to preserve my hearing via surgery. It can also be argued that WITH surgery, I accelerate the possibility of hearing loss. So is it better to initiate that possibility with surgery, or with no surgery but through the progression of the tumor if left alone (assuming its progression does, in fact, impact my hearing in 1, 2, 5 years?)
b- Size of tumor: Obviously I'll be monitoring the toomah and of course IF .... and only IF .... it reaches a dangerous size, would that trigger revisiting the surgery. For sure I would need it. But until then .... why would I .... if I have my balance, and I have my hearing .... or even if I'm willing to lose my hearing because of the tumor OVER TIME .... vs. risk losing it sooner with the surgery.
BTW the doc said that my balance issues should not be getting any worse over time .... that what I experience now is probably the worst of it assuming I entered the watch and wait mode ....
SUMMARY OF DECISION TREE / THOUGHT PROCESS
Anyways, not sure if I've articulated this thought process clearly enough, but the key decision points I think are:
See if steroids solve my balance problem.
- If not, then plan for surgery
- If so, then enter watch and wait mode (hearing loss and size of tumor as "triggers")
>> If hearing starts to go over time (within the next 1, 5, or 10 years ..... no more?)
>> >> Decide if I want to TRY TO preserve it via surgery but risk losing it at that time
>> >> or decide if I want to just let it go over time, and risk losing it that way
>> If size of toomah is such that it is dangerous, then get surgery
:)
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CF -
sounds like you've done your homework :) Very thorough and analytical research.
I may have missed this in reading your post, but what about the idea of having surgery now (mid fossa) since your hearing is intact so you don't risk losing it through the watching & waiting period?
My thought is that by the time you'd notice a hearing loss it may be too late to save it.
As much as I love my BAHA, given the choice I'd have rather kept my hearing. In my case, hearing loss was one of the symptoms that lead to my diagnosis and mid fossa wasn't a choice for me.
Just playing the Devil's advocate here,
Jan
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Hey, Jan. Good point. Here's my thoughts.
Right now, what's really on my mind is my balance. I want my balance back so bad, that I'm even willing to lose my hearing over it. If I can save my hearing, I will try whatever method will increase my odds (right now both docs are recommending the retro-sigmoid).
The way I see it .... my hearing today is fine. Again, it's my balance I really have priority over. But if I need to consider hearing, I'm thinking I can potentially lose it in one of the following ways:
a- lose it during surgery
b- lose it over time
"a-" above may happen as soon as I get under the knife (whether it be retro or mid fossa)! "b-" may happen many years from now ... or tomorrow. Right now it seems the latter might be a better gamble, under the premise of .... if it ain't broke, don't fix it! If it does start to break, then let's fix it at that time (and at the same time open up and entertain the risks of breaking it more anyway with surgery) .... but until then it does not sit right with me I guess. Doc said typically it should have been gone by now (by his experience) and it's "odd" that it isn't. I'll take that oddity as a sign of hope, even if it's just to defer the inevitable!
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Good answer, CF. Seems like you've thought about everything - so the time is right to make your decision.
I'm hopeful the steroids will work for you.
Please keep us updated,
Jan
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CF ......
Just adding a thought here ..... Since ANs (officially vestibular schwannomas) grow from the outer covering of the vestibular nerve, the balance of AN patients is almost always involved. Because of our redundant system (with another hopefully good vestibular nerve on the other side), the brain learns to function using only the good side when the AN nerve is removed during surgery. The problem comes before treatment when the brain begins receiving poor signals from the AN damaged vestibular nerve and it does not know what to do with them. In these cases, removal of the poorly functioning nerve actually speeds up the process of balance recovery. Much depends upon the exact location of the tumor, how long it has been growing, and how large it is.
The length of time it takes for the brain to adjust is very individual but from the sounds of your case, you may have a situation of scrambled, poor signals coming from your AN side ..... and thus, your brain does not know how to adjust to this.
..... just my thoughts.
Clarice
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Hi CF,
No real input here, just glad to see that you are looking at ALL options.
Let us know how you feel after the steroids. This is THE hardest part of the AN journey-making that decision..
I can feel your uncertainty and ambivalence on all treatments, but the answer will come and you will feel SO much better!
I cannot imagine the balance issues being so severe, how frustrating. Just try to keep walking, and try balance exercises.
If you opt for surgery, I would say just get r done! Get the booger out. Your other side WILL compensate with balance issues.
Good luck as you continue this difficult part of the 'Journey.
Maureen
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CF,
No major comments as it seems like you've thought this through quite a bit.. Let me add that I'm with Jan and others in saying that if you postpone surgery until AFTER you experience hearing problems then you'll be too late (generally speaking) to save it. From what I've gathered from people over that last 20 months or so is that whatever level of hearing you have before treatment (whether radiation or surgery) is the most that you can hope for after treatment. So, I agree that having surgery now increases the liklihood that hearing will be lost soon rather than later, I don't think it's right to assume that you can save it after you start experiencing a loss. Like Jan said, by the time you realize that hearing has been affected, it's too late to save it generally.
If you go into your decision tree with a slight modification; i.e. that if you experience hearing loss, then hearing preservation attempt options have now exhausted, then you'll be fine with the approach you're taking. I just disagree with the premise that you can postpone surgery and save the hearing once you start experiencing a loss.. For me (and likely others as well) that my hearing loss was so gradual over time that I didn't notice it and then I woke up one day and couldn't hear. The "loss" that you'd be waiting for will likely be sudden and permanent. If hearing preservation is the goal, then surgery sooner rather than later gives you the best shot at that. But, as you say, you also run the risk of hearing loss sooner rather than later. Risk vs Reward.
My $0.02 worth... Carry on. :)
Regards,
Brian
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Our story sounds similar. Vertigo was and still is my biggest problem. My doc wrote Zofran, 4mg and that put a stop to the vertigo. Each tablet will last me about 7 hours, and then I wait and see if the vertigo returns. This drug is expensive...60 4mg tablets were $1800.00.
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Thx, all, for your thoughtful comments. If you read my one other thread I started, "Success Statistics", ( http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=11352.msg131046#msg131046 ), you can see that the doc is offering a 50% chance of preserving my hearing with the surgery. So the way I see it, I have a much higher chance of preserving my hearing by NOT doing the surgery, well I feel that my chances of preserving my hearing by watching and waiting is greater than 50% ..... no science behind it, just a feeling and something I would rather gamble on.
CDH3, that is an interesting perspective. I can see your point and how I may be able to achieve the balance I want if I proceed with the surgery. It sounds like a great approach, and I am certainly open to it and willing to do it. But first, I want to try the steroids, to see if that works. Additionally, I've been on Atkins for 10 days now (getting in shape for the upcoming potential operation ;) ), and I've dropped about 10 lbs so far .... not to mention my fatigue has disappeared by at least 99% - no exaggeration. Initially the fatigue and the imbalance were killing me .... fatigue pretty much gone now, and I've been doing some balance exercises. Believe it or not, I feel like my brain is finally compensating (makes sense considering the radiation doctors assertion that this is the WORST my balance will get, which means it can only get better if I "train my brain" with some balance workouts!). So right now, I can still feel a little wobbly, but my work capacity has increased. I would like to give the steroids a shot ..... assuming I can't beat this balance issue with exercise alone! Maybe I'm scared of the surgery and I'm in denial and I've just convinced myself my balance has improved ,,,,, ??? ;D. I don't think so but I will keep it in mind as I move forward :).
James e. I googled Zofran and it's an anti-nausea drug. Not sure if it's a steroid? The steroid this doctor described to me was supposed to reduce swelling / inflammation of the vestibular nerve / surrounding area. I don't believe Zofran does that .... also known as Ondansetron, it "reduces the activity of the vagus nerve, which activates the vomiting center in the medulla oblongata, and also blocks serotonin receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone. " I'm not really nauseous, dizzy, or technically vertigo .... just have a sense I might topple over sometimes (I never have fallen, like the old weebles toy that wobbles but they don't fall down :D) I never made it to med school so I could be all wet here ....Once I find out what the drug is I'll post back.
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CF,
So, by doing the surgery there is a 50% chance of saving the hearing.. And you think that just watching and waiting will INCREASE those odds? Pray tell how do you figure that considering the AN (presumably) is going to grow over time and only cause more effects (including, btw, hearing loss)? I'm fascinated by that logic.. Please elaborate..
Thanks,
Brian
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CF,
So, by doing the surgery there is a 50% chance of saving the hearing.. And you think that just watching and waiting will INCREASE those odds?
lol .... Oh no certainly you misunderstood, my apologies if I was not clear. If I do the surgery, say in one month, I CREATE THE ODDS of a 50% chance to lose my hearing. Obviously if I don't subject myself to that within one month, I don't create those odds. So the question is .... in one month if I do nothing, what odds are there that my hearing is still fine as it is today? No one knows for sure, and what I'm saying is that maybe it's worth the gamble to do nothing (and still have my hearing one month later), than to gamble by having the surgery, and risk (by 50%) I might lose it.. I'm not convinced my hearing will be gone in one month, but I am convinced if I have the surgery, there's a good chance it will be gonzo (a 50% chance).
Hope that makes sense.
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CF,
That makes more sense... I would think that it's worth the gamble to do nothing also. Forgive me, but I don't recall how big your AN is, but if I'm remembering right it's fairly small. I don't think you have to RUSH treatment (to borrow a phrase from another of your threads), but putting it off UNTIL there's a hearing issue isn't rational thinking because once you discover hearing issues it's too late to save it.
Sorry for the confusion. :)
Brian
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Okay, now you guys have me confused ???
Pooter, CF's AN is 15 mm, which if I remember my metric system stuff correctly is 1.5 cm - not exactly small; more like medium.
My AN was 1.5 cm @ diagnosis but had grown to almost double that by the time I had my surgery approximately 6 weeks later - something to think about CF.
While most ANs are slow growing, some have unexpected rapid growth for no known reason. And while chances are very good, you won't be like me - you never know.
I guess my point is, don't wait too long to have treatment.
Jan
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Jan,
Point taken.. I couldn't remember (and too lazy to search for it) the size or if it was ever said. Yes, that size would classify it was medium, and might hasten my decision to act if I had perfect hearing at the time. What if it takes a growth spurt and doubles in size over the next month or so? All of a sudden, you're up to the "large" category and who knows what cranial nerves might be affected by that let alone the brain stem..
The number we always hear is that AN's grow typically 1-2mm per year.. But, that's an average growth.. Many don't grow at all or very little and others take growth spurts.. Who feels like playing the lottery? ;)
It's always fun confusing Jan, though, I must admit.. hehe ;)
Regards,
Brian
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It's always fun confusing Jan, though, I must admit.. hehe ;)
Oh, sure! Pick on me :( ;) ;D
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Jan,
23!
Brian
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???
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See what I mean? Wee!!
{Hijack over}
Regards,
Brian
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Smart a**! ;D
Sorry, Phyl for the hijack - and bad language. I just couldn't let this one go!
Hijack truly over.
Jan
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Smart a**! ;D
Sorry, Phyl for the hijack - and bad language. I just couldn't let this one go!
Hijack truly over.
Jan
ahem you 2!!!!!!!! Back on topic! *cracks whip*
:)
Phyl
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Hijack truly over.
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Ok Phyl, takes a sensible Aussie to get back on track! (anyone seen a sensible Aussie?)
CF, don't use the stats given to you by these surgeons as gospel. They will be quoting generic stats. If you are going to rely on stats as a measure, ask the specific surgeon who you would have as to what are his stats. More importantly his stats on his patients 3 years post op.
To preserve your hearing - go with one of the radiation forms. You have a much better chance that way and not an invasive procedure like surgery is.
Laz
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FYI: My 48 hrs of apparent indecisiveness, procrastination, or deliberation (whatever semantic description works for you ;)) are over. My decision has been made and I'm going for the gold, ie., the operation .... sooner rather than later. You can know this is final cuz I told my wife :D.
Three factors pushed me over the hump:
1. Driving home last night was practically the drive from hell. Maybe cuz it was late, maybe cuz I cried the first 4 minutes or so into the drive (and this swelled my brain), or maybe cuz it was dark out. I felt like I needed to pull over to get a grip. I felt fearful. I felt like my imbalance issues had just gotten worse (and therefore the key premise of my proposed "watch and wait" had been proven wrong .... despite Dr. Radiaion's firm advisement it would not get worse. A little ticked, a little worried he will be the "assistant doc" on surgery team, but glad he was wrong because his assertion contributed towards the trigger for my decision.
2. My wife told me she felt more comfortable having a small tumor removed, rather than a larger one.
3. Oh and of course based on the general consensus of all those who shared their opinions. Thanks again for your time and consideration.
Now just waiting for the scheduler to call me back.
Hey just an update my date is set for 2/11 *gulp*
;D
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CF -
I'll add your big day to the AN Calendar.
Don't worry, I'm confident you'll do fine.
Jan