latirus ~
Hello - and welcome, although I'm sorry you have an acoustic neuroma diagnosis to deal with. You didn't offer any specifics on your AN but for what it's worth, I'll submit that at the time of my AN diagnosis in 2006, I was 63 years old (and in good health). My doctor (a superb neurosurgeon) suggested 'debulking' surgery followed by radiation (FSR). Long story short: I agreed to the doctor's plan. I had no post-op complications and my pre-surgery symptoms disappeared immediately following the surgery. The radiation sessions were tedious but otherwise uneventful. Later MRI scans showed tumor necrosis (cell death). Almost 5 years later, I'm doing great! By the way, when discussing both the surgery and the planned follow-up radiation, my doctor never mentioned my age, so, unless you have other heath issues along with the AN, I see no real reason not to consider either surgery or radiation. However, that decision remains yours, alone. As AN patients, we don't attempt to decide anyone's course of action for them - but we will support whatever choice you make. If you have any questions we might be able to answer (we're not doctors, of course), please feel free to ask or just vent, if necessary. We know what you're going through and our members are always eager to help another AN patient in whatever way they can.
Jim
