Regrowth

[Vivian B.]

Hi there,

Sorry you have to go through this again. It's great to have a forum like this to bounce questions back and forth. I myself just posted a similar question but for regrowth after radiation. I am new to all of this and from the little information that I have encountered, it seems that with these sort of tumors, sometimes they do tend to regrow. There are some stats. on line about regrowth after surgery. Sometimes it's just luck of the draw. Hang in there, you will be fine.

Vivian

[wcrimi]

If the overall probability of regrowth is 1%-2% after surgery, I assume the probabilities of regrowth are higher if the tumor was large and some of it was left behind vs. a small one that was totally removed the first time. 

Is that true?

If so, I would think the probability of regrowth when the whole tumor was removed the first time is probably less than 1%. Even .5%  is a very scrary number though.

I feel badly for anyone that has to have a second surgery. You will all be in my prayers. Hopefully it should be easier the second time around though. The balance nerve was already cut so the recovery should be faster and easier. It might also be easier to remove the titanium mesh (if that what was done first time around) and get to the area vs. cutting through the skull again. 

[mimoore]

Sounds logical to me that if they 'got it all' that chances are less likely than if they had left some for whatever reason.
I know that my surgeon left behind 'the rind' to save my facial nerve from permanent damage. When I had my last MRI it kind of looks like a sausage running along my facial nerve. I would assume that because I have some left that my chances are higher that I would have regrowth than someone who had complete removal.
Of course I am being optimistic and am NOT going to have regrowth.
Believe
Michelle 

[wcrimi]

Michele,

I am totally with you on that one.  The chances of regrowth are probably very small so I think you should be optimistic.

[leapyrtwins]

wcrimi -

the "problem" with tumors that are 100% removed is that they aren't always 100% removed.

While docs do their best and may say they got "the entire AN" even a small cell left behind can lead to regrowth.

However, I think that being optimistic is the only way to go.  My docs say they got the "whole thing" and that's good enough for me.

If I ever do have regrowth, it will be through no fault of theirs; doctors are only human and can't guarantee anyone anything 100%.

Jan

[Kathleen_Mc]

crazyd: mine regrew also (following surgical removal) and I had surgery the second time. It happens to very few people. The only thing I can say is I found the second surgey much easier.......tumor was tiny, shorter OR and esier recovery
Kathleen

[wcrimi]

crazyd: mine regrew also (following surgical removal) and I had surgery the second time. It happens to very few people. The only thing I can say is I found the second surgey much easier.......tumor was tiny, shorter OR and esier recovery
Kathleen

How large was it initially and how many years later did it return?

[crazyd925]

Update time!

If you've been following this posting, you are aware that I’ve got a re-growth of the acoustic neuroma that was surgically removed ten years ago. That one was golf ball size – approx. 3.81cm. This new one is approx. 9mm. 

I finally got to see the specialist and the first thing he said was that he disagrees with the pathologist’s reading of my MRI that I had 2 re-growths. He said that he believes the smaller tumor is really just a blood vessel and that there’s only one tumor. And he feels that the best course of treatment is to use Stereotactic Pinpoint Radiation. I told him that they had left a microscopic speck on my facial nerve and asked if it could be from that. He said – they grow at about 1mm a year and it’s been ten years and in answer to my question, yes, he believes that it did grow from that speck.
 
Keep praying and I’ll keep you informed as I wait get in to see the specialist he wants to me to see in Denver .

[mimoore]

Hi Diane,
I care please let me know how things are going.
I could cry thinking of regrowth.
Hugs Michelle

[nancyann]

crazyd: My heart goes out to you.   I'm only 3 years out & can't imagine how I would feel should this happen.
You are in my prayers - please try to keep a peaceful heart through this trying time.
I know it helped me to remind myself to calm my heart.   
I wish you all the best.

Always good thoughts,  Nancy

[wcrimi]

You are high on my list of prayers.