Awaiting 2nd MRI for Meningioma: What are possible effects of surgery?

@vernicek: In response to your question of how my meningioma was removed: I had a craniotomy 2 years ago when I was 72. The meningioma was in my sphenoid sinus 1/16th of an inch from my optic nerve. The neurologist I first consulted said there was no way any neurosurgeon would operate in that location. He referred me to a radiation oncologist in San Jose. The radiation oncologist said he would do radiation Mon.-Fri. for 5 weeks. But then he said he was a little concerned about doing radiation so close to my optic nerve and would consult with the neurosurgery department at UCSF. My daughter insisted I go directly to UCSF myself for a 3rd opinion. The neurosurgeon I saw there said it is always best to remove meningiomas if possible and that was his recommendation. I felt nervous about telling him that 2 other neuro docs had suggested that no one would operate in that location. His response was, "I do one or two a week." Then I brought up the fact of my age, 72. He said, "I have operated on 80 year olds." I will add that I have had 3 other major surgeries during my life, two in my 40s and one in my 60s. Waking up from the anesthesia after my craniotomy was the first time I wasn't sick afterward.

@kkellyjones1954: Is the meningioma literally sitting on your optic nerve? I ask because I had a 2.7 centimeter meningioma that was located 1/16th of an inch from my optic nerve and I was able to have it removed. It's been 2 years and both my follow up MRIs show no regrowth.

I am frightened and because of loss of my husband, mother and now father, I need to make this decision alone. The first opinion said it was "just" a meningioma so we will do a follow up MRI with contrast in a year. I went for a second opinion because I had been unsteady and there were some mobility issues. The second opinion was at a more major medical center (Georgetown) and after a great deal of studying, the neurosurgeon recommended the craniotomy. It seems the meningioma is very close to the optic veins/arteries. Right now, there is space, but if there is a growth spirt (it is currently 2 1/2 cm) it is a more challenging procedure. This group seems to have been through a great deal, and I do not know if a procedure in my frontal lobe is something to go into and how the craniotomy will impact me and how my brain responds to a surgery in the frontal lobe and if I will have the same emotions (good and bad). For a variety of reasons, there are no family members to discuss this whole thing with and the doctor wants to do the surgery the second week of June. Do I have to write a will? What questions should I be asking the doctor specifically. He has tried to explain but the only risks he speaks about are infection. I always worry when a surgeon makes it seem like it will be very simple and I will not have after effects of losing a lot of advanced education. It seems like there are alternatives, but radiation was not the option he thought was viable. Looking for a mentor/buddy through this. Considering asking for another MRI in July to see if there is growth but not sure if my fear is a reason to put this off.

I am frightened and because of loss of my husband, mother and now father, I need to make this decision alone. The first opinion said it was "just" a meningioma so we will do a follow up MRI with contrast in a year. I went for a second opinion because I had been unsteady and there were some mobility issues. The second opinion was at a more major medical center (Georgetown) and after a great deal of studying, the neurosurgeon recommended the craniotomy. It seems the meningioma is very close to the optic veins/arteries. Right now, there is space, but if there is a growth spirt (it is currently 2 1/2 cm) it is a more challenging procedure. This group seems to have been through a great deal, and I do not know if a procedure in my frontal lobe is something to go into and how the craniotomy will impact me and how my brain responds to a surgery in the frontal lobe and if I will have the same emotions (good and bad). For a variety of reasons, there are no family members to discuss this whole thing with and the doctor wants to do the surgery the second week of June. Do I have to write a will? What questions should I be asking the doctor specifically. He has tried to explain but the only risks he speaks about are infection. I always worry when a surgeon makes it seem like it will be very simple and I will not have after effects of losing a lot of advanced education. It seems like there are alternatives, but radiation was not the option he thought was viable. Looking for a mentor/buddy through this. Considering asking for another MRI in July to see if there is growth but not sure if my fear is a reason to put this off.

I am frightened and because of loss of my husband, mother and now father, I need to make this decision alone. The first opinion said it was "just" a meningioma so we will do a follow up MRI with contrast in a year. I went for a second opinion because I had been unsteady and there were some mobility issues. The second opinion was at a more major medical center (Georgetown) and after a great deal of studying, the neurosurgeon recommended the craniotomy. It seems the meningioma is very close to the optic veins/arteries. Right now, there is space, but if there is a growth spirt (it is currently 2 1/2 cm) it is a more challenging procedure. This group seems to have been through a great deal, and I do not know if a procedure in my frontal lobe is something to go into and how the craniotomy will impact me and how my brain responds to a surgery in the frontal lobe and if I will have the same emotions (good and bad). For a variety of reasons, there are no family members to discuss this whole thing with and the doctor wants to do the surgery the second week of June. Do I have to write a will? What questions should I be asking the doctor specifically. He has tried to explain but the only risks he speaks about are infection. I always worry when a surgeon makes it seem like it will be very simple and I will not have after effects of losing a lot of advanced education. It seems like there are alternatives, but radiation was not the option he thought was viable. Looking for a mentor/buddy through this. Considering asking for another MRI in July to see if there is growth but not sure if my fear is a reason to put this off.

I am frightened and because of loss of my husband, mother and now father, I need to make this decision alone. The first opinion said it was "just" a meningioma so we will do a follow up MRI with contrast in a year. I went for a second opinion because I had been unsteady and there were some mobility issues. The second opinion was at a more major medical center (Georgetown) and after a great deal of studying, the neurosurgeon recommended the craniotomy. It seems the meningioma is very close to the optic veins/arteries. Right now, there is space, but if there is a growth spirt (it is currently 2 1/2 cm) it is a more challenging procedure. This group seems to have been through a great deal, and I do not know if a procedure in my frontal lobe is something to go into and how the craniotomy will impact me and how my brain responds to a surgery in the frontal lobe and if I will have the same emotions (good and bad). For a variety of reasons, there are no family members to discuss this whole thing with and the doctor wants to do the surgery the second week of June. Do I have to write a will? What questions should I be asking the doctor specifically. He has tried to explain but the only risks he speaks about are infection. I always worry when a surgeon makes it seem like it will be very simple and I will not have after effects of losing a lot of advanced education. It seems like there are alternatives, but radiation was not the option he thought was viable. Looking for a mentor/buddy through this. Considering asking for another MRI in July to see if there is growth but not sure if my fear is a reason to put this off.

I am frightened and because of loss of my husband, mother and now father, I need to make this decision alone. The first opinion said it was "just" a meningioma so we will do a follow up MRI with contrast in a year. I went for a second opinion because I had been unsteady and there were some mobility issues. The second opinion was at a more major medical center (Georgetown) and after a great deal of studying, the neurosurgeon recommended the craniotomy. It seems the meningioma is very close to the optic veins/arteries. Right now, there is space, but if there is a growth spirt (it is currently 2 1/2 cm) it is a more challenging procedure. This group seems to have been through a great deal, and I do not know if a procedure in my frontal lobe is something to go into and how the craniotomy will impact me and how my brain responds to a surgery in the frontal lobe and if I will have the same emotions (good and bad). For a variety of reasons, there are no family members to discuss this whole thing with and the doctor wants to do the surgery the second week of June. Do I have to write a will? What questions should I be asking the doctor specifically. He has tried to explain but the only risks he speaks about are infection. I always worry when a surgeon makes it seem like it will be very simple and I will not have after effects of losing a lot of advanced education. It seems like there are alternatives, but radiation was not the option he thought was viable. Looking for a mentor/buddy through this. Considering asking for another MRI in July to see if there is growth but not sure if my fear is a reason to put this off.