Author Topic: good news to share  (Read 2464 times)

becknell

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good news to share
« on: May 12, 2009, 07:14:03 pm »
I haven't been here in a long time, but some of you might remember me. I just wanted to share good news.

My husband, who had surgery in '05 for a 3.5 cm AN, and GK in May '06 for the tumor that the doctors were not able to remove because it was stuck on his facial nerve, had a follow-up MRI today, three years post GK. The residual was unchanged from last year and he doens't have to go back and have another MRI for TWO YEARS.

This was really good news because in May '08 when he had his MRI the result showed that the residual was about 1 mm larger than the year before - not enough to be a real big concern, but enough to be worrisome. So we were thinking about it a lot this past year and wondering if we'd have to think about more treatment.

The good news: We don't. No change since last year.

We pretty much left all this behind us and my husband has been doing well. He lost all his hearing in his left ear, but he uses a TransEar and that helps in situations like conversation. He has a few balance issues in the dark, but we put up night lights in the bedroom. He didn't have any facial paralysis because the doctors prevented that by leaving some tumor on the facial nerve.

All in all, life is good after AN. Just wanted to share some good news because when we were going through this it helped me to know that people had gotten through it and gone on with life.

Hope everyone is doing well. Best wishes.



Kaybo

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2009, 08:06:58 pm »
Hi!  You don't know me because I guess I came along after you (even though I had my AN out in 1997) but I can still celebrate with you!   ;)  Congratulations on the clean MRI and the good news!!  May you have many more years of clean MRI's!!

K ;D
Translab 12/95@Houston Methodist(Baylor College of Medicine)for "HUGE" tumor-no size specified
25 yrs then-14 hour surgery-stroke
12/7 Graft 1/97
Gold Weight x 5
SSD
Facial Paralysis-R(no movement or feelings in face,mouth,eye)
T3-3/08
Great life!

leapyrtwins

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2009, 08:24:31 pm »
Becknell -

you were before my time also, but I think it's great that you returned to the forum to update us on your husband.

I'm glad his MRI was clean.  I'm also glad he likes the TransEar.  I have a BAHA and find it helps my SSD immensely.

Best,

Jan
Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways

alicia

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2009, 08:42:30 pm »
As a newbie - it is very nice to hear the good news.  Celebrate!
02/16/18 III to IV post GK Facial Paralysis
12/13/17 Gamma Knife
05/19/09 Translab Larger than expected - Drs used the word "tangerine"   House - Friedman and Schwartz
04/02/09 Diagnosed Left AN 3.2cm x 2.6cm x 2.7cm

Cheryl R

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2009, 09:13:06 pm »
Jennifer,  I thought of you the other day and wondered how things how went for both of you!    I am so glad you posted and so glad to hear the good news.         I remember the worry you were going thru.         There are a few old timers around here yet.
        I will see if I can still write you off of here.                                 Cheryl R
Right mid fossa 11-01-01
  left tumor found 5-03,so have NF2
  trans lab for right facial nerve tumor
  with nerve graft 3-23-06
   CSF leak revision surgery 4-07-06
   left mid fossa 4-17-08
   near deaf on left before surgery
   with hearing much improved .
    Univ of Iowa for all care

Kate B

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2009, 09:28:30 pm »
I haven't been here in a long time, but some of you might remember me. I just wanted to share good news.


Glad you posted to let us know. I remember when I was a newbie, it was good to get reports back from those who had already been treated. I was a member in 2005 and I am glad to hear of your husband's unchanged picture!  Uneventful is a welcome word in the MRi World.

Kate
Kate
Middle Fossa Surgery
@ House Ear Institute with
Dr. Brackmann, Dr. Hitselberger
November 2001
1.5 right sided AN

Please visit http://anworld.com/

sgerrard

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2009, 11:34:18 pm »
I love these "drive by" posts. 8)

They describe what we all really aim for -  to leave this AN chapter of our lives in the rear view mirror, and get back to living life to the fullest.

If not before, I hope you will drop by in two years to update us on the next clean MRI in 2011.  ;)

Steve
8 mm left AN June 2007,  CK at Stanford Sept 2007.
Hearing lasted a while, but left side is deaf now.
Right side is weak too. Life is quiet.

28Lisa

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2009, 12:41:20 am »
Yay thats great news, im happy for you.

Thanks for sharing the update.  Its always refreshing to come across an uplifting report.

Hope to hear more gd news

Lisa
A.N. 4+cm, 9/11/07 @ NY Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Phillip Stieg
post opt - partial facial paralysis on left side, total hear loss on left side, speech altered, loss of taste, smell,balance, loss of sensation on right side from shoulder down, low motor skills, eye weight 11/07

suboo73

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2009, 04:13:59 am »
Becknell,  Thank you for sharing this good news! 
My sister and i are both here in the last year, so stories like yours are welcomed!
Continued best wishes in the coming days to your husband and you.

Sincerely,
Sue
suboo73
Little sister to Bigsister!
9mm X 6mm X 5mm
Misdiagnosed 12+ years?
Diagnosed Sept. 2008/MRI 4/09/MRI 12/09/MRI 1/21/11
Continued W & W

Vivian B.

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #9 on: May 13, 2009, 05:22:07 am »
Becknell,

Good news is always good. Keep up the good work!

Vivian
CPA AN(most likely meningioma) 1.6cm by 1.5cm by 1.9cm diagnosed early March 09. Watch and Wait.

nteeman

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #10 on: May 13, 2009, 06:07:24 am »
It nice to read some good news. Congrats!

Neal
Diagnosed 12/16/2008
AN 2.4 X 2.0 X 1.6 CM
surgery performed on 1/27/2009 Mt. Sinai Hospital, NYC
Dr.Bederson & Dr. Smouha
9:30am thru 5:50pm
http://www.facebook.com/neal.teeman

tatianne

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #11 on: May 13, 2009, 01:16:31 pm »
Fabulous news !
Waith and Watcher
July 2006 8mm
Jan 2007 9.5 mm
Jan 2009 1.4 cmm x 5mm
GK surgery completed on May 4, 2009 in Sherbrook Quebec, hoping and praying this will be the beginning of the end of my AN......

Jim Scott

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #12 on: May 13, 2009, 02:33:36 pm »
Jennifer ~

Let me add my congratulations to the many already posted.  This is certainly splendid news and we definitely appreciate you're sharing it.  :)

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.

Debbi

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #13 on: May 13, 2009, 05:06:38 pm »
Always so good to hear good news.  I believe that the good outcomes far outweigh the bad ones, but it's always so good to read of the good outcomes.  Hooray for Becknell!!! :D
Debbi - diagnosed March 4, 2008 
2.4 cm Right Side AN
Translab April 30, 2008 at NYU with Drs. Golfinos and Roland
SSD Right ear, Mild synkinesis and facial nerve damage
BAHA "installed" Feb 2011 by Dr. Cosetti @ NYU

http://debsanadventure.blogspot.com

Vivian B.

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Re: good news to share
« Reply #14 on: May 13, 2009, 05:48:28 pm »
Hello,

I agree with Alicia, when you are new, it's great to hear good news. 

Vivian
CPA AN(most likely meningioma) 1.6cm by 1.5cm by 1.9cm diagnosed early March 09. Watch and Wait.