Robert-
I think "Van Gogh Recording" is very funny, too. And, as battyprincess said, better to keep one's humor in all this. I'm especially glad that you're able to maintain a sense of humor, since the AN affects your
identity probably more than others of us.
I'm in western Washington, Ocean Shores. I went to the Univ. of Washington, which has a team of doctors and others who specialize in acoustic neuromas. They arrange their schedules so when you have an appt, you meet with ALL of them. The meeting I had with them gave me a pretty full range of options, with no one pushing one treatment over another. The doctors are Larry Duckert, Robert Rostomily and Jason Rockhill. They do microsurgery (both kinds, I believe) and Gamma Knife. I didn't ask about Cyberknife, but they seem like knowledgeable folks and are very helpful, so it might be worth a call to Dr. Duckert to ask if they might be able to help you make a decision including the CyberKnife option.
Below I've cut-and-pasted what Raydean, another member of the ANA Forum who's from western Washington, told me when I was first diagnosed, giving her recommendations. It's generally considered in the Forum that Raydean knows what she's talking about, so I thought it might add to your "knowledge" base of Washington resources. I'm glad you have family in the Seattle area, since bigger cities are, I think, going to have medical teams with more experience. Spokane ain't close to Seattle, but it would be worth the trip, I think.
This is what Raydean said:
"Going form the perspective of experience with AN's At the top of my list
would be
Dr Sandra Vermeulen (sorry only have her fax number) Dr. Vermeulen is a
board member of IRSA and is very knowledgeable, . I would trust her with
my life . If I was going to go with radiation she would be the first person
I'd talk to. She'll help in any way, she'll be up front with you and you
can easily talk to her.
DR Charles Mangham of the Seattle Ear Clinic. Doctor Mangham is probably
the most experienced Doctor in the Seattle area for the surgical option.
(
www.seattleear.com for his website and contact info. He Doctor Mangham
is a neurotologist that specializes in AN's. The only complaint that I've
heard is that some people have found him difficult to talk to. My personal
experience was once I started asking questions and he understood that I had
had done some research I had no difficulty in talking with him. For me his
experience spoke for itself. Again, I would trust him with a family
members life. Kathy Goertzen (Komo 4)went to Dr Mangham for a different
type of tumor (meningioma) . With all of the research available to her. I
think it spoke volumes when she chose Dr. Mangham.
Dr Douglas Backous of Virgina Mason Medical Center. next to Mangham i think
this doctor is in second place for experience in the treatment of AN's for
the Seattle area .
This is a starting place . There are other doctor's who are probably good,
but I strongly believe in the experience factor. "
Keep making music.......
Ciao,
Dana
