Is an AN a hereditary thing?

[kimbero13]

I was diagnosed in 2001 with a 2.5 cm An on my right side. I had surgery first ,then 5 years later I had Cyberknife Radiation done. So far so good. My sister just got diagnosed with an AN, hers is 4.4mm on the exact side, and location. Is this weird? Has anybody ever heard of two siblings having AN's?

[Jim Scott]

kimbero13 ~

The short answer to your questions are: yes and yes. 

To the best of my knowledge (I'm not a doctor) is that ANs are not hereditary.  However, a form of AN, called neurofibromatosis II or 'NF2" is often hereditary.  We have members with siblings have developed an AN so it is not unknown, but yes, it is kind of weird.

Jim

[leapyrtwins]

Usually not, unless you are NF2.

But it has happened.

Jan

[suboo73]

I was diagnosed in 2001 with a 2.5 cm An on my right side. I had surgery first ,then 5 years later I had Cyberknife Radiation done. So far so good. My sister just got diagnosed with an AN, hers is 4.4mm on the exact side, and location. Is this weird? Has anybody ever heard of two siblings having AN's?

Hi Kimbero13,

So glad you posted to the Forum, WELCOME!

My sister (BigSister) was diagnosed in the summer of 2008, after having mild symptoms and MRI with contrast.
As i read her e-mail describing her symptoms, etc, i said to myself "...wait a minute, that is what i have been saying for 12+ years!"
So i went to a major medical center and ASKED for the MRI with contrast to rule out an AN - i like all the information i can get, so just had to know.
Yes, i have an AN too, it is definitely strange/weird.

Sometimes, we just laugh at ourselves and say we are 'special.'  I suppose it is our way of dealing with the situation.
----------------
I am grateful that we have diagnostic tools like the MRI.
Finding out i had an AN was not what i was expecting or hoping, but now i can move on and get treatment if needed.
Currently, my sister and i are both in W & W.

I am so glad you are doing well after your surgery and CK - i pray that takes care of your AN!
I hope your sister is doing ok and not having too many symptoms - please let her know we are thinking of her during this time.

All my best to you and your sister!
Feel free to send me an e-mail or PM if you want.

Sincerely,
Sue

[Sue]

And a man on here with an AN had a dog who got an AN.  Now THAT is weird.

Sue in Vancouver, USA

[rayden1]

Hi 

I am the only person i know in this country that has an. I am sure there are more, do not know.

ann x

[Cheryl R]

There is a man who has one and had radiation a few years ago.     Lorenzo.        Will let him know about you.
                                        Cheryl R

[cin605]

My cousin is NF2 and i had an AN removed 2.5 years ago.She had had 5 of them.

[ceejay]

My daughter and I have both had a brain tumor.

I had an AN diagnosed and removed in 2005 and in 2008 our 21 year old daughter was diagnosed with a 4.8 cm choroid plexus papilloma.  Like an AN it is a slow growing benign brain tumor and extremely rare.  We were both operated on by the same surgeon.  It was strange going through surgery myself and then supporting my daughter through it to.  But the fact that I had been through it made it a bit easlier for her.