Hi, Ellid:
I can't add a lot to the good advice already posted here except ot tell you that, regarding the age issue, I'm 63 and in excellent health. My neurosurgeon didn't hesitate to recommend microsurgery (ASAP) for my 4.5 cm AN tumor as radiation, alone, was not a viable option. Incidentally, at our first meeting, he put my MRI films up on a viewer in his office and hand-measured the AN as I watched him. No mystery there. He spent about 25 minutes with my wife and me, explaining my options. He recommended
retrosigmoid and I saw no good reason not to agree, so that is what he did.
I never saw an ENT physician. My Primary Care Physician was trying to find the source of my imbalance and loss of appetite complaints and ordered an MRI
with contrast for me, expecting to find a sinus condition. Instead, he found a large Acoustic Neuroma tumor and called me at once, recommending a neurosurgeon. That surgeon was not a good match for me (inexperienced with AN's) and I was recommened by my wife's doctor to another, highly respected and very experienced (35 years) neurosurgeon in New Haven (Dr. Issac Goodrich - a great guy). He had done thousands of AN-removal operations and, unlike the first neurosurgeon - who seemed to be intimdated by my large AN - Dr. Goodrich was almost eager to remove mine. He used microsurgery and radiation, combined, which turned out well.
In any case, do the research and if you have a tumor under 3 cm, know that radiation is a very effective approach to this situation. Meanwhile, hold on to the fact that it's a
benign[/u] tumor, it's
operable[/u] and that many have gone through the removal/radiation process successfully. It is serious but it can be handled. Do not panic or despair.
I wish you all the best.
Jim[/color]
