Colleen
I am new to the connect mayoclinic group discussion here and I am from Canada
I was diagnosed 12 years ago when I was 41 with a right side parasaginal meningioma that when found was about 2cm however I was symptomatic
I was told to watch and wait and did so for about 6 months but I had little quality of life and was experiencing personality changes
I got angry one day and turned to the web to answer my growing number of questions and fell upon the mayo clinic site
I actually called directly and asked to speak to a Neurologist or Neuro surgeon. My phone number was taken and within a few hours I was called back. Unfortunately I do not remember the name of the neurologist who returned my call but I will be forever grateful
He listened and asked questions and then advised me that if I was uncomfortable with what my Neuro surgeon had suggested to “ watch and wait” then I had every right to ask for a second opinion. He even supplied me the names of three Neuro Surgeons from my hospital here in Canada that I could call and get that second opinion from
I thanked him hung up and made my first call to Dr Hall at the Montreal Neurological Hospital. He took me seriously confirmed I was symptomatic and fast tracked me to surgery
After 7.5 hours of surgery a 6.2 cm (yes it had grown rapidly) grade I tumour was removed that had begun to attach itself to the falix the main artery of the brain which had I continued to “watch and wait” would have made the tumour inoperable
I am forever grateful for the day I finally got angry and landed upon your institution and who provided me sound medical guidance because I am here to talk about it and lived to see my grand daughter come into my world
If a patient is not comfortable with the “watch and wait” approach they should know and be encouraged to get a second opinion this is your life not anyone else’s