You and I are in similar circumstances. I am 47 and was just diagnosed, left ear. Yes, you need more info. Size is important, as is just where it is, the shape, what it is up against etc. I have been able to learn a great deal about these things generally, but I also learned that that doesn't mean much about mine specifically. For example, mine is "1 cm", yet I have some symptoms, while others don't have symptoms until they are 3 cm or more. So it's not just about size.
I am having my records forwarded to Duke University as it is only a few hours away by car and they have a lot of expertise in this field. I need to see my MRI and I want someone to tell me, as best they can, where mine is and how that effects the outcomes of surgery. The placement of these things matters a lot as to whether it is in the canal, or closer to the brain etc.
I believe you need this kind of info to make your decision as well. One thing that is weighing on me is that apparently your symptoms don't get better after surgery. In other words, the surgery arrests the symptoms where they are, so you might not want to wait until symptoms get worse. On the other hand, these things may take a decade or more to get big enough to need surgery. So, by waiting, you are POSSIBLY giving yourself ten years of relatively healthy living before you have to deal with possible complications of surgery.
In my case, I have two young children. In ten years my son will be a 200 pound strapping man who could help me down steps, in and out of a car, etc if I have a rough recovery. Right now, I would just be one more person needing care that my wife would have to deal with, in addition to loosing me for a period of time as a partner in the raising of our children.
Here is a link with in depth information that I found helpful. It can be discouraging reading this stuff, but there is a lot to learn from it. Read it in small doses so you don't get too worked up over all of this. This is a very "glass half full" situation. Yes, we have a "brain tumor", but, we have the luxury of being able to learn about it and plan solutions. The outcomes of the various options are generally very good. Things could be a lot worse. Think about soldiers that literally get blown up and the head injuries they sustain. Then see how much many of them are able to recover their quality of life after sustaining something that compromises their brain much more than what we are facing.
Nobody responded to my thread either, which is a bit discouraging. But, with you and I in the same boat, it might make it a litle easier to navigate our way through some of this.
In short, I would definitely get a second opinion.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/882876-overview
