Would you take a 50% risk for a 50% chance?

[JaneK]

Hi all,

Here is a quick but loaded question:

Would you choose to remove a an today if it meant that you had a 50% chance risk of loosing your hearing today with the upside reward being that you also have a 50% chance of preserving your hearing long term (as opposed to waiting to gradually loose your hearing over time by waiting)?

[dwilliams35]

Well, the way the question is phrased, isn’t that a 100% chance of losing the hearing (whether all at once now or losing it gradually later)  vs. a 50% chance of recovery?  If that’s the case, I’d have to lean toward the surgery.

[dwilliams35]

But that wasn’t the question.

[Kathleen_Mc]

A loaded question it is.
My questions: 1. Is the tumor growing ?
                     2. For how long has it been observed ?
                     3.  Current size ?
                     4. Symptoms?
                     5. Is there indication other nerves are being affected other than the auditory nerve?
                     6. Are you aware of all the potential "losses" involved in having surgery ? ( and I ask as for some people loosing hearing in one ear is the least of their worries when the wake up from surgery).

 
To my way of thinking  there is so much more to be considered beyond that of attempting to save hearing.

Kathleen

[ColleenS]

I would do it again. As Kathleen mentioned there are so many circumstances that you have to take into account. And each case is different. For me, my brain stem was involved and the bigger it would become, the bigger the problem. Loss of hearing was a minimal side-effect. Thank God we all have two ears

[Echo]

I couldn't agree more with all the points Kathleen makes.  While no one wants to loose their hearing, when you do your research and realize all the risks you face with either microsurgery or radiosurgery, hearing loss drops to the bottom of my most concerned list. I think Kathleen's point #6 is well worth reading again and giving serious thought to - not because I want to raise fear or anxiety for anyone, but because it's a common sense well thought out question.

6. Are you aware of all the potential "losses" involved in having surgery ? ( and I ask as for some people loosing hearing in one ear is the least of their worries when the wake up from surgery).

Cathie