Watching a Meningioma Brain Tumor

Posted by robinem @robinem, Feb 8, 2018

I've just been diagnosed with a 2cm meningioma tumor on the right front of my head. I am 59 years old and the surgeon has told me I will need to "do something" with my tumor someday since I am younger. What is the benefit of waiting?

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

@lisalucier

Hello, @ginette55 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'd wonder, too, if I were watching and waiting with 2 meningiomas and I started losing vision.

If like to tag @deblee @cyndymc @donald1214 @robinem to provide some support and any input they may have at this time about continuing to watch and wait with the vision loss you've experienced

Have you had the opportunity to talk with your doctor about the changes in your vision? If so, what did he or she say?

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Not yet. But I am expecting a new appointment.

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@ginette55

I have been diagnosed in 2018 with meningioma 12 mm on my right front brain. They gave me antibiotics for 10 days. I had again a MRI 3 months ago and was told that this meningioma is now 8 mm but I have an other one below of 4 mm. They advise me to wait and see. I don't have any motor sign but losing some of my vision. Do I have to wait?

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Hello, @ginette55 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'd wonder, too, if I were watching and waiting with 2 meningiomas and I started losing vision.

If like to tag @deblee @cyndymc @donald1214 @robinem to provide some support and any input they may have at this time about continuing to watch and wait with the vision loss you've experienced

Have you had the opportunity to talk with your doctor about the changes in your vision? If so, what did he or she say?

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I have been diagnosed in 2018 with meningioma 12 mm on my right front brain. They gave me antibiotics for 10 days. I had again a MRI 3 months ago and was told that this meningioma is now 8 mm but I have an other one below of 4 mm. They advise me to wait and see. I don't have any motor sign but losing some of my vision. Do I have to wait?

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@cyndymc

I have a 1.2 cm meniginoma . I have been having tingling sensation to my forehead and right eye area. I have been told this is pressing on the trigeminal nerve. Does anyone have these symptoms? Trying to find a medication that with relieve these symptoms. I am watching and waiting to see if grows, surgery sounds scary due to location near carotid , brain stem.

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I also have a meningioma that is 2.4 cm since last scan in October. I am having the same symptoms as you but also balance problems and numbness in feet. Doctor recommended Gabapentin but don't want to take it. My NS says the tingling numbness in forehead, eye and now lip is not connected to the meningioma. He is suggesting the watch and wait, too. I have another MRI in January. Good luck to you.

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Hi, @lisalucier! I’m tagging @jill333 @gloriajean @robinem. I’ve only seen one NS about my M, and he has since discontinued seeing brain patients. I’ll be seeing a new NS in April. I’ll be having a new CAT scan with and without contrast in February or March for that visit to see if the M has grown/changed. I can’t have MRI due to pacemaker. No tingling sensation in forehead or right eye area. Am seeing movement disorder neurologist for myoclonus. She took me off primidone and and put me on propranolol for tremors. So far, so good. Still on keppra until after myoclonus is cleared up, then she’ll wean me off that. I’m not convinced that there’s no connection between the myoclonus and the M, though. Myoclonus symptoms are coming back.

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@cyndymc

I have a 1.2 cm meniginoma . I have been having tingling sensation to my forehead and right eye area. I have been told this is pressing on the trigeminal nerve. Does anyone have these symptoms? Trying to find a medication that with relieve these symptoms. I am watching and waiting to see if grows, surgery sounds scary due to location near carotid , brain stem.

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Hi, @cyndymc - I'd like to tag @jill333 @donald1214 @gloriajean @robinem so they can share some of their experiences with meningioma as well as whether they may have had a tingling sensation in the forehead and right eye area.

Is surgery being recommended for you at this time, or is the doctor also thinking watching and waiting is best? Did your neurologist have any medication to offer to alleviate the symptoms?

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@colleenyoung

Hi @mrector, welcome to Connect. It takes time to heal after surgery. However, I would hope that some of the pain in your jaw would start to subside. Have you talked to your surgeon about it? It would also be good to mention it at your upcoming appointment with the neuro-opthamologist.

You may also be interested in this discussion on Connect:

- Optic Nerve Meningioma patients https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/optic-nerve-meningioma-patients/

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I have a 1.2 cm meniginoma . I have been having tingling sensation to my forehead and right eye area. I have been told this is pressing on the trigeminal nerve. Does anyone have these symptoms? Trying to find a medication that with relieve these symptoms. I am watching and waiting to see if grows, surgery sounds scary due to location near carotid , brain stem.

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@gloriajean

colleen - how can my message be shared with others on this post

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@gloriajean, your message about Brain Tumor Awareness week Oct 26 to Nov 2 was shared with all members participating in this discussion and all members following the Brain Tumor group.

Are you doing anything special for brain tumor awareness?

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@gloriajean

FYI: Oct 26 to Nov. 2, 2019 is International Brain Tumour Awareness Week!
Meningionas is the most common brain tumour - 37% of all tumours, benign & malignant are meningioma

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colleen - how can my message be shared with others on this post

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@colleenyoung

I agree that the watch and wait treatment approach can be un-nerving. That's why it is so important to have a good relationship with your doctors and trust in their care and expertise. Personally, I prefer to call watch and wait "active surveillance" which puts the emphasis on watching and that something IS being done.

@donald1214, you can self-refer to Mayo Clinic. The expert leadership spans across all 3 campuses. I invite you to watch these 2 video Q&As with neurosurgeons from FL, AZ and MN campuses to get a feel for the doctors.

– #MayoClinicNeuroChat Live from American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting (2018) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/webinar/mayoclinicneurochat-live-from-american-association-of-neurological-surgeons-annual-meeting/
– #MayoClinicNeuroChat on Innovations in Neurosurgery (2017) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/webinar/facebook-live-mayoclinicneurochat-on-innovations-in-neurosurgery/

When you call at any of the 3 campuses, you will be offered an appointment within 48 hours http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63 Be sure to mention the Brain Tumor 48-hour Access program.

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FYI: Oct 26 to Nov. 2, 2019 is International Brain Tumour Awareness Week!
Meningionas is the most common brain tumour - 37% of all tumours, benign & malignant are meningioma

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