When to transition from 6 month to 1 year MRI?

[evelyn]

I am a 67 year old woman who eats healthy, is very active and is in otherwise excellent health (climbed a 14,000 ft mountain last year). My AN was discovered Jan 2010. I have had MRI's at 6 month intervals since then. After an initial increase in size from Jan to Jul 2010 my AN has had little or no growth. Symptoms have remained minor (some hearing loss and minor unsteadiness).  I am at the 3 year point now and want to start the 1 year MRI interval but my doctor wants to stay at the 6 month interval until I have accumulated 3 years of no growth. Is there a generally accepted time to change from the 6 month to 1 year interval for watch and wait people? Summary: Jan 2010 .8 x. 6 cm, Jul 2010 1.1 x .7 cm, Jan 2011 1.2 x .6 cm, Jul 2011 1.2 x .6 cm, Jan 2012 1.2 x .6 cm, Jul 2012 1.2 x .6 cm .

[Derek]

Hi Evelyn...

Seems to me that you have a great Doc who is taking real good care of you. Go with his advice and I feel sure that it won't be too long before you are having annual MRI scans. Keep up with your healthy active lifestyle and hopefully, just like many of us in long term W & W, you may never require any radiation treatment or surgical intervention.

Best Regards

Derek

[Mickey]

Hi Evelyn! I`m approaching 65 with 6years W+W with the same exact size AN as you.  I`ve been stable since diognosed leading a very healthy and active lifestyle also. When first diognosed and making the decision to W+W I went for MRI`s every six months for 2 years then every year for 2 years now I`m awaiting my next MRI after 2 year period soon. I was told to monitor myself and if any symptoms appeared or got worse to get an MRI. So far so good me feeling at the minimum a little better. Check out our W+W brigade for good info. Maybe with a little luck I`m wishing to find a reduction someday like Derek. Wishing you the best on dealing with your AN with the hopes you will stay healthy W+W forever... Best wishes, Mickey

[arizonajack]

Size wise I don't see any difference between a 6 month MRI or annual MRI at this point.

Unfortunately, the tumor is eating away at your acoustic nerve even if the tumor remains the same size.

Since you only have "some hearing loss" I'd be more concerned with how often you get an audiogram to monitor your hearing ability.

If your hearing ability is decreasing even slightly over time you might consider getting aggressive with your tumor before you lose the hearing completely on the AN side.

My AN ear is totally deaf. Trust me, it sucks.