Author Topic: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!  (Read 428029 times)

Derek

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #240 on: May 21, 2013, 04:11:20 PM »
derek, you were saying somewhere else you have a specific diet you follow.  Where is the info on this if you don't mind saying?  tia!

Hi Stepphers...

My general diet is really nothing more than an awareness of healthy eating and corresponding lifestyle. Plenty of fresh fruit / vegetables and oily fish - reduce intake of red meat /  salt / sugar / saturated fats / junk food - drink plenty of water - moderate alcohol consumption - no smoking -  take regular daily exercise and a few minutes each day completely relaxing with eyes closed and feet up...and that, combined with an 8 hours undisturbed night's sleep, just about does it for me!

Our good 'Brigade' friend Mickey also favours taking vitamin supplements and I am sure he will advise of his personal preferences.

Best regards

Derek
 
Residing UK. In 'watch & wait' since diagnosis in March 2002 with right side AN. Initially sized at 2.5cm and now self reduced to 1.3cm.
All symptoms have abated except impaired hearing on affected side which is not a problem for me.

Stepphers

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #241 on: May 21, 2013, 05:08:47 PM »
Derek!  Thank you!  I am so happy for you! ;D

Mickey

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #242 on: June 11, 2013, 02:42:40 PM »
I`m writing this down on our W+W forum but I`m sure it may be able to help all those with an AN treated or not in the future especially those with NF2`s.  Anyhow, I went to a great NYC meeting (6-8-13) with Dr. Roland from NYU giving his presentation. He went over alot and what amazed my most was him and NYU seeming to be on the forfront of working with technology to help AN`s with medicines. The 3 medicnes primarily in trails now were Bevacuzumab, Lapatinib,+Avistan. All I want to do is put this out there for everyones research keeping on top of our AN future. You can t thank Dr. Roland + crew for working so hard..... Best wishes, Mickey

LisaM

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #243 on: June 11, 2013, 03:23:06 PM »

Thanks Mickey!

And don't forget Honopure (pure honokiol extract)... you don't need a prescription.  Here's link to a paper that discusses honokiol and ANs (aka Vestibular Schwanommas VS):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22057812

Excerpt:

CONCLUSIONS:

Honokiol, a low molecular weight natural product, inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in schwannoma cells by targeting the ERK pathway. Our data suggest that honokiol can be evaluated as a chemotherapeutic agent for VS.

Sending you all shrinking vibes!
Wait & Watch
1st Symptom Temporary SHL 7/10 AN Diagnosed via MRI 4/14/11
AN Size 4/14/11 = 1.4cm x 1.8cm x 1.7cm
AN size 7/14/11 = Same - Stable, no growth
AN Size 2/01/12 = 1.3cm x 1.3cm x 1.6cm (5mm reduction)
AN Size 11/27/12 = less than a centimeter! (50% reduction! And I can still hear!)

Nannybee

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #244 on: June 11, 2013, 04:04:30 PM »
Thanks Mickey. I was offered to be a part of the Avastin trial, but after researching the horrible side effects, decided to go with radio surgery for the AN and conventional craniotomy for one of the meningiomas. (The others will stay put for now) Perhaps for those with NF2 who have more tumors, the risk/benefit ratio would be more acceptable. I am grateful for the research and those who are willing to take part in the clinical trials, and for you sharing the information!
AN 18x19 mm
3 meningiomas
NF2
AN treated with SRS April 2013
MRI Feb 2016 AN shrunk to 17 x 8 mm :)
Constant tinnitus in AN ear
Severe hearing loss AN ear

Mickey

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #245 on: June 11, 2013, 07:19:25 PM »
TY Lisa and Nannybee.... Honokiol! Everyone out there remember this one... Read the research that Lisa put out there.. I also have been using pine bark extract from Europe which got some good reports??? I`ll be taken my now 2 year mri soon. Feel good + got my fingers crossed.  Best Wishes, Mickey

Sheryl

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #246 on: June 14, 2013, 12:28:19 AM »
Lisa - great abstract - thanks for posting.  Are you taking Honopure.  Your shrinkage is impressive.
Sheryl
9th cranial nerve schwannoma - like an acoustic neuroma on another nerve. Have recently been told it could be acoustic neuroma. Only 7 mm of growth in 18 years. With no symptoms. Continuing W&W

LisaM

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #247 on: June 14, 2013, 01:09:33 AM »
Hey Cheryl! Yes I'm taking honopure.  Started taking it in January 2012 taking 2 capsules (with food very important).  Now I take 3 each night before bed.  Next MRI is in November.  I think the daily meditation with mantra is a big help too.  And... I have made it a point to reduce/avoid stress.  Stress is still around but I'm dealing with it differently.  I've been watching Gabor Mate on youtube.  He talks about stress and its impact on our health.  Here's a link to one of his talks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf92l7FPyKo  He is an amazing speaker.  I just love what he has to say!
« Last Edit: June 14, 2013, 01:11:10 AM by LisaM »
Wait & Watch
1st Symptom Temporary SHL 7/10 AN Diagnosed via MRI 4/14/11
AN Size 4/14/11 = 1.4cm x 1.8cm x 1.7cm
AN size 7/14/11 = Same - Stable, no growth
AN Size 2/01/12 = 1.3cm x 1.3cm x 1.6cm (5mm reduction)
AN Size 11/27/12 = less than a centimeter! (50% reduction! And I can still hear!)

Mickey

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #248 on: June 20, 2013, 05:22:32 PM »
Hey Lisa! Just ordered another 120 bottle of honopure!  Cost alot but as they say you get what you pay for... Mickey

LisaM

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #249 on: June 20, 2013, 07:03:30 PM »
Yes... honopure is pricey, but if you buy it by the case it gets a bit cheaper.  Hopefully in time the price will come down as honokiol extract becomes more available. 

I do think honopure is helping but the other things that Derek is doing, that started this thread; drinking plenty of water, eating a healthful diet, taking a rest/mediating each day, singing (or meditating with mantra) and regular exercise are working too.  Being happy, having people that you love in your life, doing things that you enjoy and keeping stress manageable, all these things are very important to those of us in the wait and watch brigade.

I am so thankful to have found this thread.  It gave me the courage to try waiting and watching.  And I'm still waitin and watchin!
Wait & Watch
1st Symptom Temporary SHL 7/10 AN Diagnosed via MRI 4/14/11
AN Size 4/14/11 = 1.4cm x 1.8cm x 1.7cm
AN size 7/14/11 = Same - Stable, no growth
AN Size 2/01/12 = 1.3cm x 1.3cm x 1.6cm (5mm reduction)
AN Size 11/27/12 = less than a centimeter! (50% reduction! And I can still hear!)

Mickey

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #250 on: June 24, 2013, 02:41:40 PM »
Well its that time again! Scheduled a MRI for Wed Jun 26. Its almost 2 years now and I`m trying something a little different. Its a stand up MRI (actually sit down) lol. No contrast... I`m trying to make it easy on myself. I`m feeling very good, and if there is nothing too much out of the ordinary I`ll do the same again in 2 years. Thinking positive and saying my prayers, Best wishes, Mickey (6 yrs W+W)

Jim Scott

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #251 on: June 24, 2013, 03:01:55 PM »
Mickey ~

Best of luck on Wednesday!  :)

Jim
4.5 cm AN diagnosed 5/06.  Retrosigmoid surgery 6/06.  Follow-up FSR completed 10/06.  Tumor shrinkage & necrosis noted on last MRI.  Life is good. 

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.  The way we cope with it is what makes the difference.

Derek

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #252 on: June 24, 2013, 03:33:35 PM »
Best wishes for another positive result for you on Wednesday Mickey...you deserve it!  :)

Regards

Derek
Residing UK. In 'watch & wait' since diagnosis in March 2002 with right side AN. Initially sized at 2.5cm and now self reduced to 1.3cm.
All symptoms have abated except impaired hearing on affected side which is not a problem for me.

LisaM

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #253 on: June 25, 2013, 09:37:18 AM »
Best wishes for good news on Wednesday!  And... for trying something different!
Wait & Watch
1st Symptom Temporary SHL 7/10 AN Diagnosed via MRI 4/14/11
AN Size 4/14/11 = 1.4cm x 1.8cm x 1.7cm
AN size 7/14/11 = Same - Stable, no growth
AN Size 2/01/12 = 1.3cm x 1.3cm x 1.6cm (5mm reduction)
AN Size 11/27/12 = less than a centimeter! (50% reduction! And I can still hear!)

Mickey

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Re: Top Tips For The 'Watch & Wait' Brigade!
« Reply #254 on: June 27, 2013, 07:37:36 AM »
Thanks for your well wishes! I went for my MRI in the new stand up, sit down MRI machine.  Took about 35 minutes in a seated position with a open head frame adjusted to my head while watching the Yankee game on TV... lol. +no dye! Although it did make those crazy noises while your must sit still, a pleasant suprise! Well next I`ll call for my results next week and hope the pictures will come back clear enough and stable for my doctor... Feeling good and got my fingers crossed, Best wishes, Mickey