Mallory,
Welcome to the forum. Sorry for the reason you are here but nevertheless I am glad you found us.
The key is you want to be as informed as possible.
Believe it or not- in Canada (I am a Canadian residing in the USA) you can look around and select your surgeon there – the key is having a good GP and or ENT who will write the referrals to see them.
Here is the Canadian Acoustic Neuroma site
http://www.anac.ca/A “neurologist� is a
generalist of the brain. You really need to see a “neurotologist� (a
specialist in acoustic neuroma tumors) since this is a tumor that grows outside the brain and involved the acoustic (vestibular) nerve (and sometimes the facial nerve). Also you only want a surgeon who has done
many surgeries and only comes with much experience.
Here is one of the world renown – in your area Julian M. Nedzelski
http://www.sunnybrook.ca/team/member.asp?t=14&page=2152&m=207Many on the forum have been pleased with this doctor (neurosurgeon)
Dr. Rutka
http://www.surg.med.utoronto.ca/neuro/Remember your surgical team must involve a neurosurgeon
and a neuroTOlogist.
Plus this one in London, Ontario- Dr Lorne Parnes
http://www.uwoent.ca/node/12If you choose to go to London- Parnes has a new partner joining him, this fall that actually assisted in my surgery- Dr Sumit Agrawal.
Also you have not mentioned the size of your tumor- this may have a bearing on what other options you have-
besides surgery.
I respect that you are a private person- as I
was. You will need to build a support system as you will need much assistance and help from others. This will be a time where you need to let go and delegate to others. Around the time of treatment- you will loose some independence – but with good follow up care,
faithfully following physiotherapy etc- you will most likely gain this back again. I learned that it is important to accept help when it was offered- no matter how strong and independent I am- as there are times when we just need other people.
This is one of those times…Every AN patient outcome is different- size, location and adhesiveness of the tumor can have a huge bearing on the outcome and recovery time. Know that you are already on this website and discussion forum ...is a step in right direction.
I am almost at my 1 year anniversary from treatment and I am biking, hiking, swimming- and enjoying summer. I won’t deny there have been challenges and obstacles- but I learned to overcome these as they came up but most importantly to reach out to others -not only when I needed some support and help but to help others out too.
We are here for you. ![Smiley :)](https://www.anausa.org/smf/Smileys/classic/smiley.gif)
Ask questions as they come up. There other Canadians
![Smiley :)](https://www.anausa.org/smf/Smileys/classic/smiley.gif)
contributing to this forum and hopefully they will chime in too.
Keep moving forward.
Daisy Head Mayzie