Tumor growing on the hearing nerve

[Jenn15b]

I spoke with Dr. Fayad and he said 99% of the tumors grow on the balance nerve, and 1% grow on the hearing nerve.  I am part of that one percent, and I am curious if anyone else has theirs growing on the hearing nerve?

[jazzfunkanne]

is it not the other way about? am sure mine was on the hearing nerve

[leapyrtwins]

Jenn -

my AN was on the 7th and 8th cranial nerves.

During my surgery the docs found it was wrapped around the hearing nerve, which is why I "lost" it and ended up SSD.

In order to remove the entire tumor, they had to sacrifice the hearing nerve.

Jan

[Jenn15b]

Jan, That is what they are telling me, that since it is growing on the nerve I will be SSD.

[leapyrtwins]

Jenn -

I don't want this to sound harsh, but there are worse things in life than being SSD.

Many of our fellow Forumites have adapted to being SSD and don't use any kind of "assistance"; others (me included) have a BAHA implant; still others have a TransEar.

Jan

[Syl]

Jenn:

My tumor was on the balance side of the nerve. During surgery the balance nerve was removed, stretching the hearing nerve. That left me with 20% word recognition.

Syl

[tenai98]

gee, now i'm wondering what nerver my AN was on..I'm guessing the balance one as my balance nerve was dead before surgery and given that i had the translab method, that the hearing nerve was cut making me SSD. I now that the tumor in somewhat entwined with my facial nerve as well...as the doc couldnt remove all the tumor for fear of damaging the facial nerve.
JO

[Tumbleweed]

Jan, That is what they are telling me, that since it is growing on the nerve I will be SSD.

I don't see why this has to be, Jenn. If you get radiation (CK or GK), the docs should be able to kill the tumor while still preserving the lion's share of your hearing (assuming your hearing is still in decent shape now).

Best,
TW

[Kaybo]

I guess I have just been the "ignorant" blond all these years...I thought that the 8th nerve was the hearing AND balance nerve and the 7th was the face...   


K

[mimoore]

You are not alone Kaybo, I did too!
Michelle 

[tenai98]

ok  some please clarify!!!
5th nerve facial nerve
8th nerve hearing
what is the 7th??
Offf to look for my ANA books
JO

[sgerrard]

I guess I have just been the "ignorant" blond all these years...I thought that the 8th nerve was the hearing AND balance nerve and the 7th was the face...   

No, you have been the knowledgeable blond. The 8th nerve (acoustic) branches into the cochlear nerve (hearing) and the vestibular nerve (balance). The balance nerve then branches into the superior and inferior vestibular nerves. And they all live snuggled together with the 7th nerve (facial), inside that tiny little canal.

Jenn15b therefore has an acoustic neuroma (a tumor on the 8th nerve), but it is not a vestibular schwannoma, it is a cochlear schwannoma.

And that's enough neuro anatomy for the day.

Steve

[nancyann]

Kay, Michelle & Steve are right !
                                                                                                                                                                                           
 
      There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
  Olfactory I
  Optic II
  Oculomotor III
  Trochlear IV
  Trigeminal V
  Abducens VI
  Facial VII
  Auditory (vestibulocochlear) VIII
  Glossopharyngeal IX
  Vagus X
  Spinal Accessory XI
  Hypoglossal XII

[Kaybo]

I feel so much better - I thought that I'd been telling people wrong for all these years!! 

K   

[Cheryl R]

Years ago in nursing school we were given a way to remember the cranial nerves.     I can not think of what this is called as there is a name for this.     
  Think of "On Old Olympus Towering Top A Finn A German Viewed A Hop".             Think some surgeon also told us a "naughty" version but can't remember that one.                       Anyway is a help in remembering the nerves.
                                                       Cheryl R