Newly diagnosed with a meningioma. 2 opinions differ

Hello @cnesselroad, I see that you recently joined Mayo Connect - we are pleased to have you!

We appreciate your sharing your experience with us. How are you feeling?

Teresa

Feeling a little down but not giving up hope. It honestly doesn’t bother me that I might end up blind in one eye. Just wish I could get some kind of insight on if all of the wierd symptoms are connected. Thank you for replying it means allot.

@cnesselroad

Often by talking with others who have had similar experiences, you can get a lot of information to put your mind at ease. Many hospital systems have personal support groups for people who have had brain tumors, have you connected with any of these? Also, The American Brain Tumor Association has a website and listing of support groups by states. Here is the link, http://www.abta.org/brain-tumor-treatment/brain-tumor-support/support-groups/.

Will you check it out and see if you can get any answers or help from them?

Have you asked your doctor about the connection of these other symptoms?

Teresa

Thank you hopefulI will check out these links you sent me. My doctor told me to go ahead and try invitro but everything I have read says that pregnancy can cause the tumor to grow At exacerbated rates, so I really don’t trust his opinion anymore. My gyno doesn’t think think they are related. My neuro ophthalmologist doesn’t seem concerned either. 

Can someone @ Mayo advise whether you do second opinions via telemedicine with existing MRIs?

I need the same info for my situation. I javemy MRIs and need 2nd opinion

I was recently diagnosed with this as well. The Mayo docs agreed that a watch and wait approach is best given my age 59 and the size (small). They ruled out it’s cancer based on a 6 mo scan thst it had not grown. The tinnitus and vision disturbance is mild though aggravating. The surgery that the neurosurgeon explained was gruesome and the surgeon felt radiation if it was needed in the future would be the best approach. I also had breast cancer, am female, and had radiation ( for thyroid and breast cancers) and all of these put me at a risk of developing a meningioma. Mine is olfactory groove and the location makes it’s a delicate and more difficult surgery.

Forgot to say. I went online at mayos website and requested an appt. They reviewed my records and I was seen in under a month.

I had a 2cm meningioma removed at Mayo in January. It was diagnosed in 2018 and we’ve been watching it annually (wait and watch). I had no symptoms but because it was growing, albeit slowly, and it was at the base of my skull and starting to compress my spinal cord my dr recommended it be treated. I consulted with a radiologist who advised surgery first because radiation can cause some swelling at first. My surgery was 10 hours and I was in the hospital 5 days. Left the hospital using a Walker due to balance and coordination issues. Have physical therapy 4x a week and am seeing progress. My surgery involved my spinal cord which resulted in loss of mobility in my neck and left arm. That is resolving with therapy but I wasn’t told about that before the surgery. 80% of tumor was removed. I highly recommend Mayo for this type of surgery. I only wish I had been told more about what to expect post surgery. I’m glad there is a way to consult with Mayo. I would expect they’d want to treat if you are having symptoms due to the tumor.

Is it safe to fly with a left cavernous sinus meningioma?