Have you thought of getting a second opinion? Did the doctor specifically say the surgery would be 8 hours? I was told by 3 doctors that my meningioma was in a tricky location, difficult to access, (and that is why 2 of those 3 doctors said surgery was not an option) but the 3rd doctor I consulted at UCSF , who did the surgery, did it in less than 4 hours. And my meningioma was totally resected, although the other two aforementined doctors who did not do the surgery also questioned if that were possible, that being the total removal of it. I've stated this before, I have had 2 mastectomies 18 years apart and the craniotomy was no worse.