ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: thisisajourney on July 28, 2010, 04:22:25 pm
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I am four months post op and I go back to see my sergon in dec. my tumor was 4 cm. by 2.9 they did a subocctical and left 3 percent of the tumor. and who knows about radiation? I.E. pros and cons.
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Got this information from the main page of the ANA website.
http://www.anausa.org/questions_for_physician.shtml
Hope it helps.
Debulking through surgery and then using radiation to treat the rest of the tumor is common these days for large ANs. Our own Jim Scott had his AN treated this way.
Jan
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Hi!
Wanted to stop by and say best wishes when you return to the surgeon.
Jan gave the list of questions, and i am sure they will help.
Many thoughts and prayers for continued healing.
Sue
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yes please let us know how your meeting with the surgeon goes...and remember if you don't like the answers find another Dr. and get a second opinion.
:)
Take care,
Liz
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Got this information from the main page of the ANA website.
http://www.anausa.org/questions_for_physician.shtml
Hope it helps.
Debulking through surgery and then using radiation to treat the rest of the tumor is common these days for large ANs. Our own Jim Scott had his AN treated this way.
Jan
Thank you, it does.
Oh, this darn tumor messed me all up. I just cry. It is so hard cause my face is paralyzed and I have to walk with a walker. I feel way to young for this. I feel like a bawl baby. I'm not O.K.to go back to work. This is so hard cause I was alright before the surgery and now, after, I'm worse. Thank you for helping me
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Chin up!
Try not to get too discouraged. There are often setbacks after surgery - especially for an AN as large as yours was.
You are still in the early stages of recovery and hopefully things will get better over time.
Please feel free to lean on your fellow Forumites for support, advice, or just shoulders to cry on.
Don't lose faith,
Jan
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thisisajourney ~
Hi. I'm so sorry you're forced to deal with these post-op complications, but, as Jan pointed out in her post(s), things usually improve over time so, although improvement never comes as quickly as we would prefer, you very likely won't always be this way. We've recently seen AN patients posting accounts of major improvement many months (and even years) after their surgery. These improvements often happen incrementally but every little bit of progress is welcomed. Balance can usually be regained to a serviceable level, without the need of a walker, but it can take both time and effort (PT). There are manifold approaches to intractable facial paralysis, from physical therapy to surgery, depending on your situation. Again, many post-op AN patients have told us (via the forums) of significant improvement in their facial mobility following various forms of treatment. However, sometimes, facial mobility is arrived at spontaneously but that is determined by a number of factors better left to a doctor to explain. Of course, an intact ('live') facial nerve is necessary but even without it, facial improvements can be achieved. Just ask our members.
As Jan mentioned, I underwent successful debulking surgery on a near-5 cm AN in 2006. It was reduced to approximately 2.5 cm, then, 90 days later, as planned, I underwent FSR treatments to 'finish it off', as my doctor put it. It worked. I was extremely fortunate to have had superb medical care and suffered almost no complications from the surgery or the radiation, although I'm SSD (as I was prior to the surgery). I'm always distressed to read of other AN patients with large tumors that are struggling with post-op complications, as you are, so I remain an active member of the ANA website forums in the hope of offering what little expertise I have and my account of a successful AN journey. Your journey may be a lot bumpier but I'm confident you'll complete it successfully, too. You are certainly not alone. Your 'AN family' is here to inform and support you so please don't allow discouragement to cloud your outlook. and remember, you won't always be the way you are, today. Things do get better, I promise you.
Jim