Meningioma: Anyone else? I'm frightened

Thank you.
Good luck to all of us. Let’s keep in touch

Thank you so much. Even now as I write in the post my eyes are seriously bothering me. The headaches are terrible.
Thank you for listening. I appreciate it.
I’m glad your eyes are well.
Good luck.

I have a M overlying the anterior left temporal lobe measuring 3.6x 2.7 cm. I sought a evaluation from Mayo Clinic in September 2024 and was so very impressed with the speed to seek counsel from a neurologist and neurosurgeon that were experts in their fields. There was thorough discussion and we ended with a conclusion to re-evaluate in a year with another MRI.
It took a few months to get an appointment but I went for a 2nd opinion at the surgical Neuro-Oncology-Brain and Spine Tumor Center at Northwestern Medicine yesterday. He essentially recommended the same thing and to re-do the MRI in a year to re-evaluate growth and impact ....but one of the discussion points that was a NEW POINT to me was "IF and WHEN" a surgery is needed , he would suggest looking at a trans orbital surgery which could address the Meningioma that I have in the left temporal lobe by an incision to the left of the eye instead of a full craniotomy. He indicated it is less invasive and less of an impact to the skull bone frame. I am not a doctor by any stretch to have the full information but I simply wanted to share something that may be an option. I don't know if this is new or not but the thought of it being a little less massively invasive seemed welcoming.

@cad22770, how are you doing now? What tip would you offer that helped you during recovery?

Thank you so much. I will definitely look into surgeons who are very skilled at this type of surgery. I am taking my time and not rush into surgery especially when the surgeon states the surgery will be too difficult and it's no guarantee he will be able to remove Tumor. He wants me to see the radiologist to see if they could shrink the tumor. I'll see what will come out of this.

Hi,
I’m 67 year old female and I’ve just been diagnosed with a mennigenoma. The doctors found it after I had an MRI for a sinus issue.
Back in the 90s, I had an episode where I ended up in emergency with severe vertigo. At the time the doctors told me it was an infection that migrated into my brain and destroyed my equilibrium and part of my hearing. I also ended up with tinnitus and had to learn how to walk again. I was left with severe pain in the right side of my head, chronic infections, ear and eye pain with blurred vision.
I’m curious if that incident was caused by the tumor, or is the tumor the symptom from all the trauma?
The neurosurgeon I visited opted for immediate surgery with no explanation why or possible alternatives. I wasn’t comfortable with this so we agreed to wait for 6 months and reevaluate at that time as the menningenoma is “small”.

I’m afraid and am having a problem dealing with all of this.

Any suggestions as to how to move forward?

To any one who has had the surgery, what were the results? Did you end up with any side effects? Were you able to resume normal activities after surgery?
Thanks

I advise getting at least a 2nd opinion, and a 3rd as well. You should be given reasons and options.

Am I reading your post correctly? The meningioma was first diagnosed in the 1990s and you've been on the watch-and-wait protocol since then. And now, in 2024, you're deciding whether to have surgery. I agree with "cscmaryann"s" post that your next step would be to get a second opinion. Also, you need to educate yourself as much as possible. When consulting with
"Dr. Google" stick to reputable websites/institutions for information: Mayo Clinic,
Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, etc.

No, it wasn’t diagnosed in the 90’s. I’m asking of that is possible, considering I really had no actual diagnosis except “infection”. All the symptoms match.
The mennigenoma was recently diagnosed. When I spoke to the neurosurgeon, his first suggestion was to remove it, no other options were offered. My PCP will not respond with any opinion other than “it’s your decision.”

I read most of what “Dr Google “ had to offer, and I’m freaked. Glad I found this group.

I’m in SE Michigan. Would you have any recommendations?