new worry....

[kdmayb07]

woohoo go bucks!! haha

thank you so much for all of your wonderful input on my previous posting, it makes me feel better about the consultation w/ dr chiocca, knowing that there are folks on this forum with some of his success stories =)

so before going to bed last night, i was up thinking (which is a very bad thing to do late at night because being tired always makes me more emotional hehe) and i was hit with a new fear...what if it becomes malignant? is that a possibility with this type of tumor? what is the likelihood?

as i said before, she is worried about the aftermath (facial issues and hearing and whatnot). i, however, just want this to be behind us and never rear its ugly head again. i just want her to be happy and healthy, i will take her however i can get her, as long as i have my mom =)

[Omaschwannoma]

Hi,

It's okay to worry about the "what ifs", but let me reasure you these tumors are almost always benign!  I'm sorry I do not have stats for you, but for your mom to have a malignant schwannoma is very, very, very slim. 
 
I've been a member for years and I have yet to be introduced to someone who's vestibular schwannoma was malignant. 

Try my motto on for size...."Don't worry until someone tells you to."  In the mean time keep asking your questions as they are valid and we'll do what we can to help. 

Now get some rest.

[sgerrard]

Here is a quote from a recent article (Oct 2008) (see http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=7837.0):

"Eight case reports of malignant transformation of acoustic neuroma can be found: 2 followed external beam radiotherapy, 2 followed stereotactic radiotherapy, and only 4 were spontaneous."

There must have been several hundred thousand ANs diagnosed around the world over the last 30 years. Whatever the actual likelihood is, it is certainly really, really small.

Steve

[Jim Scott]

Kidmayb07:

Your concerns about the tumor being or becoming malignant are fairly normal but basically unfounded.  As Steve pointed out, the stats prove that the chances of an  Acoustic Neuroma tumor metastasizing are infinitesimal.  Yes, that could happen, just as you may be hit by a runaway tractor-trailer truck the next time you drive on the interstate, but the chances of either event actually happening are extremely small.  Its your choice, but I wouldn't waste my time worrying about this.  Your mom's concerns about hearing loss and facial complications following surgery are, frankly, more valid, although, again, these complications are not a given with surgery and quite often, some degree of hearing and facial mobility return in time.  There are simply no guarantees with this condition but to lie awake worrying about your mom's AN becoming malignant is not really helpful to you or your mom, considering the very, very small chance of that ever occurring.  Please try to relax a bit. 

Jim

[kdmayb07]

thanks, i feel so much better about that part now, it was just a late night worry i guess...

now the tough part is just waiting until dec. 17 to get her to the consultation with the neurosurgeon at ohio state univ. it feels like forever away!

CWood said that we can send a copy of the MRI dvd to the house ear institute in LA, CA and get a free second opinion over the phone! that is amazing!

High Hopes,
Kristin

[leapyrtwins]

Kristin -

my docs (neurotologist and neurosurgeon) told me that 99.9% of Acoustic Neuromas are benign.

You can't ask for better odds than that.

Jan

[Debbi]

Yes, Kristin, don't worry about malignancy.  It is so extremely rare as to be statistically insignificant.  That being said, I'll confess that I do my very best worrying late at night!    I know it's pointless, but can't help myself...

Debbi