incredibly worried

Hi people,

I've just heard - and I'm sure it was meant very kindly - and not intended to cause distress - that if someone is older - I'm 72 with a benign brain tumour - that their surgeon said they would not have operated.

I'm under Cheerful Days - and my story is that I was diagnosed incidentally last year with a 1cm x 1.3 benign meningioma but it is close to optic nerve. I'm having regular checks, MRI and optical imaging.

My surgeon did say that he really wouldn't want to operate at my age and hoped that it outlived me. I totally agree with him there!

However, I've not just heard that someone's surgeon said that had she been older (and she was only in late 50s) he wouldn't have operated on a similar meningioma.

Surely if symptoms arise such as sight loss, brain bleed, or serious pain they don't just leave you because you are 'older".

I know people say to forget all about it, but easier said than done. I am symptomless, but to be advised just to do the things I love is rather like saying 'enjoy life while you can'.

Think I will call the nurses tomorrow and then delete my profile.

I don't at all blame anyone for what is probably meant to be positive - but I'm now incredibly anxious about the possibility of being left as untreatable due to age.

If I'm being overly sensitive I apologise - just can't help the worry, especially as I'm dealing with a seriously ill husband at moment.

Thanks to everyone again for taking the time to reply to me and my warmest wishes for everyone's recovery. I do understand that many others are going through a much harder journey than I am, and that I'm lucky to have reached my 3 score years and 10, plus another 2. I do feel for all you younger folk dealing with similar and infinitely worse.

Sorry for the rambling - just anxious.

signing off permanently now.

[eblu]

Hi

I am 77 and have a meningioma which is inoperable due to its position. However because my symptoms- double vision-are getting worse I am due to start a course of radiotherapy, I imagine that you would also be offered this if your symptoms worsened so try not to worry and maybe check this out with your nurse. Meningiomas generally grow very slowly so the best option may well be just to have regular scans to check whether it is growing.

Very best wishes and good luck. It is scary to get this diagnosis

[Paper2021]

Hi

I’ve not heard that.

I have read that they don’t operate if under 3cms unless in certain places that are causing symptoms. The smaller tumours are still valid and in the UK they are put on Watch and Wait if they don’t currently have symptoms

All risks would be taken into consideration.

If possible and your happy too get another surgeons opinion.

This place is a lovely place for people to check in on each other and share their experiences. I hope you will stay. Take care. 💕

[Dymphna19]

Hi I am 67 and have a small 1.5 cm menigioma which was discovered 5 years ago. I have been on watch and wait since then. It is very slow growing. I think they tend to leave alone if possible as the Brain surgery can have great risks and cause difficulties if a nerve is affected. As you get older there are more risks to surgery but people do have treatment if they need it, it really depends on the surgeon's evaluation of risks with the individual patient. A good idea to contact the nurse as they know details of your case and will give you reassurance. I am sorry you are also caring for your husband that is not easy. I hope the nurse will be able to help with your anxiety. Take care and very best wishes to you x

[DDDo]

Hi there,

Im 72 and now just 3 months post op. I dont think age is a defining criteria as to whether one has surgery or not. My tumour was around 3cms x 2.8 or something like that. everyone's journey is different just depends on location , size and surrounding vital structures. I am in Australia. Try to take care and maybe stay on here as there are things to learn on this forum and people are very supportive.

.

[Hidden in reply to DDDo]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all who have replied to me saying that age is not an issue. I had thought that until someone said that her surgeon had told her he would not have operated had she been older (she was late 50s).

It unfortunately made me very anxious incase there was a blanket policy to 'not treat'.

My situation is made very stressful simply because my husband has advanced cirrhosis and we have had 8 life and death hospitalisations since November 23, with other 'serious' hospitalisations and many procedures.

So, dealing with my little friend sitting alongside my left optic nerve has been the proverbial straw etc.

My neurosurgeon knows about my husband's situation as when I saw him I was actually on my way to visit my husband at same hospital (Edinburgh) where he was being treated for sepsis. I had spent most of previous night in resuscitation with my husband.

After a very uneventful life medically speaking - to say all this has been a learning curve is to put it mildly!

Again, many many thanks to all for massively reassuring me. We can all inadvertently say something which we perhaps don't mean to sound alarms.

I'm forever grateful, as I am to the Liver forum, and I don't want to be having to join another - lovely as everyone is!!!