Debbie,
I am sorry you have to deal with AN but this website is absolutely wonderful with all the information and support it provides. I also leave in NJ and had my AN treated twice, so I visited a lot of surgeons. Expertise and experience of your treating team are crucial to your good outcome. There are many teams in NY who have done hundreds of these surgeries and every big hospital has their own team. Here is the list:
DR. Sisti (Columbia Presbyterian) - does both micro- and radio- surgery. He does Gamma radiation with Dr. Isaacson and both are very good at explaining things. I would start with Dr. SIsti.
Dr. Golfinos at NYU does micro-, GK and FSR. He works with Dr. Roland, neurotologist and will refer you to him if necessary. He is also very good at explaining things.
Dr. Sen (Roosevelt) does micro- only but he removed huge tumors of all kinds and works with Dr. Constantino who is an otolaryngologist and a plastic surgeon. What is good about the team is that they give you a lot of information about the tumor, do not pressure you into treatment of any kind and not particularly prejudiced against radiation if indicated and/or possible.
There are two other teams I did not visit but came highly recommended: Dr. Steig at Cornell and Dr. Post at Mount Sinai. To my knowledge, they do only microsurgery but are very experienced.
I am not aware that CK (another type of radiation) is available in NY. You might have to travel out of state if you choose that. Quite a few people are very pleased with CK, so research that aslo.
My understanding is that you are leaning towards the surgery, not radiation and you are at the beginning of your research. If you reject radiation in favor of surgery, make sure you know what you are rejecting and why. Your tumor size now allows both as a feasible option. I would (and I did) visit a few doctors just to get their opinion and understand your tumor location and the critical structures it is pressing on.
Best of luck and keep us posted!
Eve
