similar scenario?

[phx]

Okay...it could be my anxiety again, but I've just been really afraid lately. I wish I could talk to my doctors the way I wanted to, but really, I feel like they just want to do their thing. Is there anyone out there who had a large tumor, followed by not so successful surgery, and then radiation? Please tell me that there hasn't been regrowth. I've been through heck and I don't want to go through it again. Please, please,  please someone! I just want to know that it is possible. I'm afraid I'm going to experience balance and vision problems again. I've noticed recently that my left side is always twitching and that it's growing weaker. Thanks so much everyone.

Phx

[becknell]

I have not been on this site in a long time, and I am a caregiver, not a patient, but my husband had a somewhat similar scenario. He had a 3.5 cm An with surgery in August 2005. They were not able to remove all the tumor because it was stuck to the brain stem and facial nerve and in May 2006 he had Gamma Knife radiation to prevent the rest from growing. He has not had any regrowth and it has been almost five years now. We don't really think about it anymore. Really I think regrowth is fairly uncommon, based on the people I've talked to.

[Jim Scott]

Phx ~

I'm sorry to learn that you're experiencing anxiety about possible re-growth.  Although I cannot guarantee that won't occur (no one can) I can offer you my experience; 4.5 AN partially removed ('debulked') and it's blood supply severed, followed (90 days later) by 26 FSR treatments to destroy the remaining tumor's DNA (ability to re-grow).  Result: all symptoms disappeared following surgery, no complications to speak of.  Radiation was uneventful.  Follow-up MRI scans show tumor necrosis (cell death) and shrinkage.  Now, over 4 years later, I'm doing great.  I'm not concerned about re-growth and I would suggest that you not allow the (natural) concern to overwhelm you unless actual MRI evidence exists to substantiate your fears.

Jim