No Surgery

[woodedareas]

Has anyone considered having no surgery especially if you are older. I'm 82. Five weeks of radiation did not help and I am on with and see for 2 months but probably surgery will be recommended.

[Sadie2022]

Hi there . Sorry you are having to go through this challenging time. When I saw my neurosurgeon - I have a benign 5cm meningioma- he told me if I was 25 I’d have to have surgery quickly and if I was 85 he’d probably suggest to leave well alone - as I’m 61 - I’ve elected to go ahead with surgery now , as he said better than 71. So it’s very tricky isn’t it. My friends mum at 83 had a seizure in the night and they found a meningioma the size of a tennis ball caused it .. she had it removed and is now fit and well a year later . I’m not sure that helps- but I’m sure your consultant will recommend what’s the right route for you ..

[Gobucks87 in reply to Sadie2022]

I had a 6cm meningioma removed and i am currently recovering from surgery 3 months later. Did you have a lot of pressure in your resection cavity?

[Sadie2022 in reply to Gobucks87]

Hi Gobucks. Afraid I don’t know . I know there’s fluid around the tumour and he said that’s the brain reaction to the growing tumour — but not sure what will post op . Hope your recovery is progressing and you are being well looked after.

[woodedareas in reply to Sadie2022]

Thanks. I am having numerous scans in 2 months as I am also a survivor of lung and kidney cancer. The meningioma is something new but I did lose sight in one eye. I cherish each day but I am not certain I will go ahead with the surgery if it is recommended following the scan. My surgeon is renowned but he has spent almost no time discussing the downside of surgery and quite frankly my life expectancy at the age of 82. I don't want to spend my last few years recovering from surgery problems. So I will cross the bridge when I get to it. If I were younger I would be more positive and interview several surgeons.

[Sadie2022]

You have been through the mill ! It’s very hard having to make all these decisions.. but I keep the mantra - there’s no wrong decision just the right decision for you.. I’m sure you will and your positive attitude will take you a long way

[Gobucks87 in reply to Sadie2022]

Hi Sadie, thanks for your reply & kind thoughts. I met with my neurosurgeon for my 3 month post op visit. He told me everything looks good and the side of the brain that was being pressed down (mass effect) has almost fully expanded back to the space that its suppose to occupy. However, my surgeon seems to he stepping out of the picture. He said he’s pretty much done with me and any follow up scans or anything would be handled by radiology/oncology.

[touring in reply to Gobucks87]

Hi there, that has happened to me as well, though I was given the option to stay with the surgeon if I wanted to. I think that once the operation has been done, the surgeon doesn't really need to see you at every appointment as the consultant oncologist/radiologist needs to keep an eye on how things are progressing. He/she will advise whether or not gamma knife surgery or radiotherapy is needed after the op. The surgeon will be in the background anyway as a member of the team dealing with your case and would see you if necessary. I had radiosurgery to 'mop up' any remaining bits of tumour and the follow-up scan looked good. I will probably have annual scans and appointments with the oncologist from now on. Hope you are progressing well with your recovery.

[Gobucks87 in reply to touring]

Oh cool thanks for clearing that up for me. Recovery has its ups and downs to be honest. I still have pressure ontop of my head and when i go from seated to standing my head pulsates and throbs, more intensely if i get up quicker. Did you have anything like this? I also get occasional ringing in ears and little floaters or drifters as they call them, where you see those things in your eye that travel across or diagonally. When can i expect these symptoms to get better? I’m also trying to regain full function of my left foot/ankle as the tumor was pressing down on the part or my brain that controls the movement on that side.

[touring in reply to Gobucks87]

I still have occasional problems with balance and numbness down one side of my face. I should do more of the balance exercises I was given by the physiotherapist! I was told that after-effects can sometimes last up to 2 years and they are all different depending on where the tumour was located. I have some some stressful things going on in my life which tends to make the numbness worse from time to time. Generally though it's all good and the consultant will keep an eye on what's happening and advise onward treatment if necessary. Hope your after effects clear up soon.

[Gobucks87 in reply to touring]

That’s the thing about getting brain surgery is it such a slow process and sometimes as time goes on you would think that symptoms would get better and you would gradually get back to normal day by day but sometimes new symptoms arise along the way and it’s very alarming and it sort of seems counterintuitive.

[Quiltingrammy in reply to Gobucks87]

The floaters sound like cataracts. Please see your eye doctor, to confirm one way or another.

[Gobucks87 in reply to Quiltingrammy]

Thank you for that I was actually thinking about getting an eye exam I haven’t had one in a while but I’m not sure if it would be tough for the optometrist to determine whether or not these are after effects from a brain surgery or if they are having to do with eyes by themselves but either way I guess it wouldn’t hurt to get in and see them

[Sadie2022]

That sounds like a positive outcome 🤞 over to the next expert .. it’s a bit like being on a production line isn’t it .. everyone has their job to do and once done , the next part starts. I hope you have some time now to recuperate fully and good luck with the next steps

[Gobucks87 in reply to Sadie2022]

Thanks so much, I appreciate it. I was kind of confused at first but i guess that makes sense.

[touring]

Decisions, decisions! I was advised that surgery was my best option and was also told of the possible consequences, particularly as an older person. Unfortunately, these days all these horrible possibilities during surgery/post-op have to be given to you and it can be quite frightening. On the other hand, if the tumour is life-threatening then it's probably better to go through surgery than leave it. I had the surgery and was fine afterwards - it was followed up by radiosurgery 6 months later (originally the tumour was too big for either radiosurgery or radiotherapy). It sounds as though you are pretty strong having gone through other health problems, but you need to decide what is best for you. All the best.

[Gobucks87]

I believe it depends on the location and how large and what symptoms is the tumor causing. Age is definitely a factor when deciding to do something about it. Did you ask your doc?

[Carsok]

I was diagnosed with a meningioma that was adjacent to the brainstem and going into the cavernous sinus and Meckel's cave. The surgeon I saw was one of the best and he said do not let anyone operate. They would do more damage and I did have Cyberknife radiation. I'm 74 and was diagnosed 10 years ago. It's still there and I go every year for MRI and do have a few symptoms but I can live with them. Good luck to you.

[Thoullis]

I agree with Carsok. At your age the risks from surgery are likely to outweigh any benefits!

[Albert07]

I just had a nine hour surgery to remove a stage III meningioma. When I went in for the surgery my right leg was paralyzed and my so was my right hand. When I woke up, no more paralysis. I am 89 years old. I asked my surgeon (who is a meningioma specialist at Hopkins) what was the oldest person he ever removed a meningioma from and he said 92. I had no adverse affects from the surgery at all.