Effiya:
I was so sorry to read of your AN returning after radiation treatment.
In 2006, I had Retrosigmoid surgery to reduce my AN (from 4.5 cm to about 2.5), then FSR to kill the remainder. It worked. My symptoms (lethargy, frequent shooting pains on the 'AN side' of my head and loss of appetite & weight - to the edge of being undernourished) all disappeared following the surgery. The FSR treatments (26 in all) have resulted in MRI-verified necrosis of the remaining tumor. Today, I'm fine. An occasional 'dry eye', remedied by rapid blinking or a few eye-drops, a few small numb spots on my tongue that don't interfere with my taste and maybe a 10% decrease in my overall balance, compared to before the AN manifested itself, back in early 2006.
I tell you this only to reassure that not every AN surgery automatically incurs life-altering physical challenges. The doctor is being responsible in mentioning what
could occur but I'm sure he would also tell you that he'll do everything he can during surgery to prevent such complications from occurring. My neurosurgeon took an ultra-conservative approach based on my stated fear of facial paralysis and other post-op complications. He surgically removed as much of the large AN tumor as possible without disturbing any vital nerves, using a nerve monitoring assistant to help him stay away from disturbing nerves that, if compromised, can cause facial paralysis and other complications. I came out of the surgery with almost no problems...everything 'worked'. After a 90-day 'rest period', my surgeon and a radiologist 'mapped' my FRS treatments and took great pains to avoid any vital nerves. 5 weeks and 26 treatments later, I was finished. The radiation caused no problems. My wife and I would often have brunch or lunch afterward.
Today, well over a year later, I'm doing quite well. My balance is good and except for losing the hearing in my left ear (which was lost before my surgery) and those few niggling after-effects I previously mentioned, I consider myself a very fortunate 'survivor' of an acoustic neuroma tumor.
I state all of this to reassure you that not every AN surgery automatically leaves the patient with facial paralysis or other complications. Choose your surgeon carefully (mine had been performing AN removals for 30 years) and try to take a more positive attitude. Fear of AN surgery is understandable but ultimately unproductive, except as a motivation to seek out and select the most experienced surgeon you can find and not be bullied or allow any doctor to simply dismiss your legitimate concerns. This is your body, your life. Be proactive and confident in the surgeon you choose. You'll have to live with the consequences.
If extensive travel is necessary to receive the best care, please don't hesitate to consider doing so, even that means coming to the U.S. I would have went across the country (to the House clinic) for my surgery but was fortunate to find an unheralded but very compassionate, experienced and skilled neurosurgeon (Dr. Issac Goodrich) in a nearby city who took the time to listen to my concerns and go forward in a manner that acknowledged my fears while offering me the best chance at a full recovery. I was blessed and freely acknowledge that. I want the same for every AN patient facing surgery. I want that for you. Put aside your (legitimate) fears, research (this website is invaluable for that) and do not agree to surgery until you are confident of the surgeon and are ready to trust him or her implicitly, as I trusted my surgeon. Of course, you must act in a timely matter, due to the growth of your AN. Don't hesitate or procrastinate making a decision but try not to be panicked or
too hasty, either.
We all wish you the very best outcome (from your surgery) and trust that you'll return to this forum for advice, support and whatever insight and information we can offer. Don't be a stranger!
Jim 
