Hi, Clarice ~
I'm sorry to learn about the apparent re-growth of your AN, 3 years after your removal surgery. This is every AN patient's greatest concern and when it occurs, it has to be discouraging. However, you obviously realize that being worried may be natural but accomplishes little and you're seeking a solution that will work for you. That's the sensible approach and I'm not the least bit surprised that its the one you chose. At this point, I wouldn't be so presumptuous as to offer specific advice but I wouldn't rule out another surgery. Still, radiation still seems like the logical approach but your concerns about the prior radiation you received as a child are quite relevant. A federal advisory committee recommends that the lifetime radiation exposure be limited to a person's age multiplied by 1,000 millirems (example: for a 65-year-old person, 65,000 millirems). Frankly, I'm not conversant with radiation measurements and they seem rather arcane to me but I'm sure you'll soon be posing your radiation questions to a radiation oncologist, who should be able to offer you the answers you need to have to plan your next move on addressing this newly-discovered tumor re-growth. Whatever the future holds Clarice, I'm confident you'll face it with an accurate mixture of aplomb and common sense. You'll certainly have my unequivocal support and the support (and prayers) of everyone that posts/reads on these forums. I know that I can state with confidence that we all wish you success as you venture forth on yet another quest to rid yourself of your obdurate AN.
Jim