Anyone else diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, a benign brain tumor?

Posted by Tracy Lynne Daley @tracylynnedaley72, Jul 23, 2015

My name is Tracy Daley. I live in Omaha, Nebraska. My diagnosis is a jumbled mess that I am sorting out right now. Can anyone tell me if anyone in this support group has been diagnosed and/or treated for acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor affecting the acoustic nerve, which is the eighth cranial nerve in your brain? This nerve is connected to your ear. These tumors initially affect a person's balance and hearing and then other symptoms may appear. This is a very rare tumor and one out of 100,000 people and 8-9% of the intracranial tumors. If no one has heard of this tumor, I understand.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Brain Tumor Support Group.

An acoustic neuroma on the right side of my brain destroyed hearing in my right ear. It was discovered when I had an MRI to diagnose hydrocephalus. When the neurologist did surgery to insert a shunt, he decided that the neuroma should be "watched." Have some balance problems, but am able to function fairly well. Also have neuropathy in my feet, thanks to chemo and radiation, which probably adds to the balance problems.

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@colleenyoung

Hi @saucy
I encourage you to join this discussion about acoustic neuromas https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/my-name-is-tracy-daley-i-live-in-omaha-nebraska-my-diagnosis/ where other Connect members are talking about their experiences.

You may also be interested in listening to this Mayo Clinic expert Q&A with Dr. Weisskopf https://connect.mayoclinic.org/webinar/mayoclinicneurochat-on-acoustic-neuromas-with-drs-bendok-weisskopf/

What questions might you have as you prepare for your appointment on Thursday?

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Thanks! That's my doctor!

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@saucy

I am having a ct scan thurs as my Mayo Dr suspects I have a tumor in my ear canal. Had never heard of this but losing my hearing in one ear. Looking for info on this, Thanks

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Hello Saucy: I saw u posted that your having a ct scan for tumor in your ear scheduled. I had ear infections for 9 years, had massive amounts of anti-biotics. after ct scans, biopsy, and cultures. My doctor Finally did a MRI..Unfortunately an MRI is the only way they can see it. Sooo if I was you., and to save some time and frustration, just opt for the MRI.
By the time they found my tumor in my ear canal. It was 3.5 centimeters across and was pushing on my brain stem and causing hydpcephalys. I am by no means trying to scare you. I underwent a 12 hour surgery, ...If i would have not had to take all the antibiotics for years for ear infections, they may have found it sooner.
But as for now, because of my surgery, I lost complete hearing in my left side....Who is your Doctor? Talk to her or him...If they know theres a tumor in your canal, they should be doing a MRI

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@saucy

I am having a ct scan thurs as my Mayo Dr suspects I have a tumor in my ear canal. Had never heard of this but losing my hearing in one ear. Looking for info on this, Thanks

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I was diagnosed with my Swannoma in 2014, Dr Huong is my ENT at The Mayo in Minneapolis...Go see her, She is AWESOME, The sooner they find its size out, the better.My surgery was a bit difficult because I'm alergic to lots of drugs and anasteshias.So keeping me asleep wa a bit of a chore for them, I did a lot of testing before my surgery.
Unfortunately Ive lost a lot of balance due to the surgery. Enough that I've had to go from working a full 40 hour work week to 4-5 hours , three days a week. I cannot tell where sound is coming from, an my balance is way off some days.
Everyones after surgery state is different I'm told...Good luck, I will keep you in my prayers, Please let me know what the CT scan finds...And how you are doing..
I find it interesting whenever I see a new post on the MAYO blog...

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@saucy

Has anyone ever heard or had this type of tumor?

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Hey Saucy> Yes I had a 3.5 tumor (acustic Nuroma) removed from my brain stem in 2014.They are VERY rare.1 in 100,000 people get them, go figure I did. Yea I can't fly any more after my surgery, Air pressure messes with my head. Whatever you do. Listen to your doctors, surgeons, and PLEASE ASK Questions...Thank God my daughter is a RN nurse. I'm 61 years old, I was 59 when they found this tumor, because I had suffered from earaches for many years. Routine vist to my doctor, Bammm. Acoustic Nueroma after MRI was taken. I still have 2 percent on my brain stem nerves that go to my face, I have to get MRI eery year to make sure its not growing.
I have eye issues often, because the remains is still resting on my eye nerve...Not fun. But it could have been a lot worse

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There has been much discussion about MRI diagnosis, so I would like to bring everyone's attention to an article in the September 19th issue of the Wall Street Journal which was entitled, A QUESTION FOR ANYONE GETTING AN MRI. This article basically says, "Patients need to know if the doctor plans to use Contrast or Gadolinium, because it may leave harmful metal deposits; a new FDA warning .....Earlier this month an advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted 13 to 1 in favor of adding a warning on labels that Gadolinium can be retained in some organs, including the brain, and even in patients with healthy kidneys." When this article appeared, I called my physician and found that our hospital used Gadolinium and I refused treatment there. I am now in search of an MRI complex that only uses Contrast. Check the September 19th issue of the Wall Street Journal at your library, so you can read the rest of the the article covering the effects of Gadolinium on a 55-year-old woman from Cleveland and decide what you want to do Floridaellie

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@floridaellie

There has been much discussion about MRI diagnosis, so I would like to bring everyone's attention to an article in the September 19th issue of the Wall Street Journal which was entitled, A QUESTION FOR ANYONE GETTING AN MRI. This article basically says, "Patients need to know if the doctor plans to use Contrast or Gadolinium, because it may leave harmful metal deposits; a new FDA warning .....Earlier this month an advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted 13 to 1 in favor of adding a warning on labels that Gadolinium can be retained in some organs, including the brain, and even in patients with healthy kidneys." When this article appeared, I called my physician and found that our hospital used Gadolinium and I refused treatment there. I am now in search of an MRI complex that only uses Contrast. Check the September 19th issue of the Wall Street Journal at your library, so you can read the rest of the the article covering the effects of Gadolinium on a 55-year-old woman from Cleveland and decide what you want to do Floridaellie

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Here is a link to the Wall Street Journal to which @floridaellie refers. Note that you need to subscribe to WSJ to access the article
- WSJ: A Question for Anyone Getting an MRI https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-question-for-anyone-getting-an-mri-1505751710

Also here is the FDA article posted May 22, 2017
- FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA evaluating the risk of brain deposits with repeated use of gadolinium-based contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm455386.htm

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@saucy

I am having a ct scan thurs as my Mayo Dr suspects I have a tumor in my ear canal. Had never heard of this but losing my hearing in one ear. Looking for info on this, Thanks

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Thanks but cannot have MRI's due to a LYNX device

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@saucy

I am having a ct scan thurs as my Mayo Dr suspects I have a tumor in my ear canal. Had never heard of this but losing my hearing in one ear. Looking for info on this, Thanks

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Thanks!

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I am concerned that you cannot link to the Wall St Journal article of September 19 entitled "A QUESTION FOR ANYONE GETTING AN MTRI" unless you are a subscriber. If you wish, I will contact the Journal and ask if they could send this to you. If so, what would your email address be? floridaellie

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