Zipporah .....
As Kathleen said, it really is a personal decision when it comes right down to it.
It would be so much easier if there had been a magic formula or crystal ball to use in making my decision recently on what to do about my regrowth. When it came all down to it, the decision was rather easy for me.
My 2.6 cm AN was removed 3 1/2 years ago via retrosigmoid. It was an unusually rapidly growing one ..... possibly due to the big radium doses I had as a kid. When it grew back (1.3 cm in February, 2011), the question was whether it would also be growing rapidly. Because of the radium, I was not a good candidate for Gamma or Cyber Knife. Plus, I really am not the sort of person who enjoys thinking about something growing in my head and not knowing how fast. I also wanted to avoid facial involvement if at all possible.
Therefore, I had translab surgery at House in May for total removal of the pesky thing! As Kathleen said, the second surgery ..... at least for me ..... was a piece of cake compared with the first time. Balance was already destroyed before so I had already adjusted to that.
For what it's worth, surgeons generally do not like to enter the same way on a second removal situation. They prefer a clean "plane" to avoid as much scar tissue, as possible. I would ask what their surgery plan is for your case and why.
Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions on my situation.
Many prayers for answers and successful treatment.
Clarice
