My tumor was medium size when it was surgically removed in 2005, but from 1991 (when this tumor began to present itself, in small ways) certainly was in the millimeter range and I HAD SYMPTOMS from the tumor not anxiety! Had the "specialists" I saw over the 14 years been special, I doubt I would've lost hearing as this tumor could've been diagnosed earlier and I could've had treatment earlier before my hearing was damaged beyond repair. What's happened with the "art of diagnosing"? Doesn't the doctor believe the patient anymore or do they automatically assume gender + age = anxiety/stress = that was easy, now on to the next patient! In a patient with a tumor growing for ten, twenty years or since childhood is, sort of, in an unknowing "Wait and Watch" and then the said tumor begins to press on nerves causing the patient to notice something is wrong, but the patient cannot put a finger on it, how does the doctor respond to a diagnosis of anxiety/stress as was told me for a few diagnosis?
With symptoms of "beginning vertigo", when the tumor is beginning to grow, doesn't present itself in a "big" way such as is the case with detectable hearing loss and clearly understood by the patient as "hearing loss". All the patient understands is something isn't right, their "off" and the feelings of fear comes from the unsteadiness of their balance from vertigo NOT anxiety or stress. All I know about my history is I was diagnosed in 1991 with a brain tumor but tests (MRI w/o contrast) did not show a brain tumor, but the very clever doctor did listen to my symptoms and did know it was a brain tumor, but did not know to add contrast. I spent 14 years feeling something wasn't right, I had incredible fear of heights, felt unsure of my movements and this was out of the normal for me as I used to scale 65 feet up a sailboat mast sitting their for hours working on rigging, my balance was impeccable having spent 7 years aboard a sailboat crossing oceans but always turned away from numerous doctors with the diagnosis of anxiety or stress.
I did have symptoms when my tumor was in the millimeter range and I did have symptoms that were irreversible with a "just medium-size tumor" (it just wasn't officially documented) so this comment goes to show that we (the patient) know our bodies and they (the doctors) make you question yourself thus leading to years of misdiagnosis with permanent damage.
The "size doesn't matter" thought process is no longer "poo pooed" as now the specialists in AN's say "size does matter" when considering saving the facial nerve. A 2 cm or larger tumor is now considered more seriously as this size causes real lasting problems to the patient's facial nerve. Whether it's from treatment or whether it's from ignorance of doctors telling patients it's okay to "watch and wait" with a tumor 2 cm.
At 1.3 cm, my facial nerve was becoming compromised. I presented with drooling (slightly), couldn't hold a smile w/o my facial muscle cramping, eye lid drooping (slightly) all noticble to me, but hardly noticble to anyone else, except my dentist who noticed the sores in my mouth from my biting my cheek and lip. I was told I could wait one year, but given the info from the ANA and patients and knowing my facial nerve was becoming involved I chose to treat at what some would consider a small size tumor. One month before surgery different symptoms started with legs giving out, dry heaving and shortness of breath at times (remember a small to medium size). Glad I didn't feel ashamed nor intimidated to wait any further just because others have bigger tumors or little to no symptoms with bigger tumors.
Trust your own body! Know that tumors growing on nerves do cause symptoms even when they are small (probably means they are growing) and this tumor is slow growing. Don't wait too long if you know your size already given the "new" information from the recent Symposium. I wonder if my hearing nerve could've been spared if my tumor was diagnosed when I presented with "slight" hearing loss with constant tinnitus. I continue to know my treatment choice was the "right" choice for me also knowing that the discussion now on radiation therapy and recurrant tumors is changing. The jury is still out on this one, but Dr. Friedman from House stated that he sees more patients with recurrant tumor growth that chose radiation therapy, does increase the odds for facial and hearing nerve damage when operating on a radiated field.
As you can read I have issues with the doctors that use the "anxiety/stress" Dx. I remain a happy, stress-less person (even though other symptoms begin to present themselves and I continue to go from one specialist to another now). I have been 2.5 years post surgery teaching yoga and looking forward to becoming an Oma (grandma) this August.
