schwannoma/ meningioma - and hearing loss

[acker]

does a meningioma or schwannoma keep growing? how can it be shrunk, or at least its growth arrested? what;s the difference between schwannoma and meningioma (and does it matter)?

mum has been diagnosed with 5x6mm trigeminal schwannoma, on right side, "enhancing nodule".
"differential diagnosis = meningioma". i guess that means they're not sure!
she has experience hearing loss on that side and recently got a hearing aid.

i read a bit about surgery - and it sounds dicey - plus - mum would never be interested in it.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW - does it get bigger and more dangerous? i'm gonna bet it can. how do we stop this? diet? relaxation? should she see a neurologist? diagnosed 4 years ago and checked every 2 years. (should it be more than every 2 years?) i have so many questions, but because the dr/ radiologist report said it's not threatening, everyone's fallen asleep on it! (the family)
thank you, anyone!

[hava]

Tell mum to do these relaxation exercises.You do it as well and compare notes with mum.
The Yog Pranayam (breathing exercises) will  help you relax and also help to control the symptoms.
Build up your timing gradually. If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after 1 minute.

Bhastrika - Take a long deep breath into the lungs(chest not tummy) via the nose and then completely breathe out through the nose. Duration upto 5 minutes.

Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Age over 15 years -Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Age under 15 years -Repeat this cycle for 5 to 10  minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and hold your head steady. Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Age over 15 years -do this for 20 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Age under 15 years -do this for 5 to 10  minutes twice a day.

Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through the nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 12  times

[acker]

thankew for the articles! and she hasn't mentioned the facial pain, and doesn't seem as bothered as her panicky daughter - !   :).

[rumpled]

Trigeminal means it is located on the fifth nerve and that is why she would have issues with hearing etc. She may also have facial pain and more symptoms. There is something called Trigeminal Neuralgia and it causes a lot of pain for a lot of people without the tumor.

It could be re the differential, that they are not sure it is on the nerve. If she is only being watched, then her symptoms are probably not as severe as they would be if the tumor was if it were on the nerve.

They do tend to be slow growers. They can be removed with surgery or treated with radiation - but radiation could destroy the nerve. That may make her face sag.

It may not be life threatening, but it may cause a great deal of pain at some point.