Meningioma: Anyone else? I'm frightened

I didn't consider my surgeon's remark that I was "72 years young" as a joke when I discussed, with him, having my aneurysm coiled. Not in the least. Perhaps because I didn't regurgitate the entire conversation one could interpret it that way. My neurosurgeon knows my health history, knows that I did quite well after a craniotomy at age 71 last year, knows that I am an active septuagenarian. He answered all of my questions, of which the age issue was only one, concisely and professionally. I feel that I am in good hands.

I had the same unwanted news. I had a bassline MRI to see if, after looking at so many other possible causes, my frequent lightheadedness had a neural basis. No problem there (and my lightheadedness has since stopped) BUT there was a meningioma the size of a kidney bean. It's not causing any problems now, and I am old so it's on watch status. I felt lucky, as you, to have discovered it early by accident. I have 2 friends who did not discover this problem until they had very serious symptoms. They were the size of fists! They are almost always benign and slow growing. So please worry less.

Unbelievable to me what a month has meant since my message above of exactly one month ago…..i am now scheduled for surgery this month and am experiencing symptoms with “sudden onset” (after almost 7 years of watch and wait)

On a positive note, i feel very psychologically prepared for surgery—i sincerely hope after a period of recuperation, the surgery will improve my quality of life.

I was offered surgery for the first time six months ago and couldn’t imagine i was so close to needing it…..and two excellent neuro-surgeons thought i could wait another six months and have another MRI “and nothing would happen” I don’t fault them….the tumor suddenly grew down into my brain after over six years of being on the surface. in may 2024, it was a “convexity meningioma”. It’s now a “parasaggital meningioma and feels very different. For me, it’s “easier” to accept the need for surgery, now that i’m “suffering”. i absolutely was not ready to have surgery six months ago….i am now…there are so many logistics to resolve before surgery and i pray for the ability and resilience to complete everything i must get done.

Thank you for sharing this information. I have scheduled MRI on 5 th.
Hopefully it should provide more accurate results.