AN Surgeons in Boston area, please!

[Bob_C]

Hi Everyone.

I have a newly diagnosed AN 1.8cm. Is there any recommendation for the experienced Drs in the Metro Boston area?

For example, MGH, BWH, or away in Baltimore John Hopkins？or west coast?
、
Thank you in advance.

[ppearl214]

Hi Bob,

I am late chiming in... my bad.

I am also in Metro Boston. My neurosurgeon is at BWH (GREAT brain tumor clinic!) and was treated with Cyberknife at BIDMC. 

As you know, we live in a medical mecca here in Boston.  All of the main Boston hospitals, such as MGH, BWH, BIDMC, Tufts, etc, offer every AN treatment option, whether surgical or radiation.

I am happy to help.  Is there a particular doctor that you are working with now and have they made any recommendations to you about what direction to move forward?

Inbox open if you want. Hang in there.

Phyllis

[Bob_C]

Hi Phyllis,

Thank you for your reply. I am looking for the option of surgery. I did a treatment plan with Brigham, but postponed due to the COVID. Another appointment with MGH was rescheduled for 5/4 with Dr. Santos, possibly reschedule again. Dr. Barker is not accepting new patients for the moment. It is so frustrating to see local doctors. Fortunately, I am working well with UCSD and will see if they can schedule me earlier, I will fly over there.

All the best.

Bob

[ppearl214]

Hi Bob,

I get it and it's very frustrating right now.

Who is your doctor at the Brigham? Mine is Dr. Elizabeth Claus, former Medical Advisory Board member here with the Acoustic Neuroma Association.

If your plan is to potentially fly out of state, please check with your health insurance plan to see if they will cover treatments out-of-state since locally, all the treatment options are available here. That is always been a very big issue and there's many discussions here on the Forum about it. If you go to the discussion forum homepage, do a search at the top. You'll be able to see how many people have run into issues with out of state insurance coverage. It's not to say that it can't happen but since all the treatment options are here locally, your insurance may not go for it.

An additional side note, based on the minimum information you shared about your tumor, it does not appear that it would be an emergency situation. Time is on your side to do all of your research. Please take a peek at the discussions here on the forums. Check out some of the commentaries that have been shared by others that walk in our shoes. If yours is not an emergency, life-threatening tumor situation, take advantage of the time on your side. Continue your research and don't make any hasty decisions. There are many that have gone years and years without treatment intervention and still continue the watch and wait. Just my two cents.

Phyl