lifeisgood - first of all, my initial surgery was a total removal. all the follow-up MRIs showed no growth, even at 10 years. i was supposed to get one five years later. at the four year point, i decide to go to a local neurologist because of some symptoms. headaches were more frequent and came as painful bursts. most would go away as fast as they came. some would stay. the other thing was that at my part-time job, i felt incapable of remembering things. however i may have been re-acting to stress as my father had died a few months earlier and i was now in charge of my mother's life (1500 miles away). but i went and got the surprising news! i haven't had any changes since my radiation procedure. i am over-due for a follow up MRI because i switched doctors. i still get head-ache shocks and now some inner ear pain. BUT i have a very active life (exercising, social, travel) and think to myself that at this point nothing can be done anyway, so i am more patient than usual. i did fully retire after that bad MRI, because i felt i couldn't rely of my cognitive skills (and i still think so) and it was only a couple of years before my husband retired. so, i would highly recommend a new MRI. i should note that my cognitive defects started after my first surgery due to brain swelling.
