Surgery?

[Becky359]

I have today been diagnoised with a mengenoma brain tumor.  Tell me how there are usually handled.  Is surgery most always done?

[Lannylucy]

Hi,
I had surgery to remove a meningioma on October 2nd.  According to my doctor, treatment depends on where the tumor is located on the brain, as well as the health and age of the patient.  Meningiomas are slow growing and usually benign so they don't always need to be removed unless they're pressing on the brain, causing symptoms.  I'm assuming yours must have caused some kind of problem in order for it to be diagnosed.  My tumor was on the skull base, growing into my ear canal.  This was causing spinal fluid to leak into my middle ear so it had to be removed.  Unfortunately, the tumor was near the 7th cranial nerve and I developed a case of delayed facial paralysis (sort of like Bell's Palsy) about ten days after the surgery.  It's getting better but I still can't blink my eye.  

Recovering from the surgery is no picnic so If you have to have surgery, just make sure you're informed.  Ask a lot of questions and read through your consents carefully.  Apparently my tumor was in one of the most difficult areas to remove.  I wish I'd asked more questions about the odds of complications.  (I had some other longer term complications.)  Hopefully, if you have to have surgery your tumor is in a location where it's easy to remove.  Good luck!