Watching a Meningioma Brain Tumor

Hello - I had a grade 1 benign meningioma tumour removed over a year ago. It was completely removed & determined to be non-cancerous. It'd diagnozed on Oct. 17 in 2013 as a result of my first & only seizure. The NS waanted to operate within 2 days - I believe more because of the edema - than because of the existing benign tumour. Because of extreme fear of craniotomy & not having any time to figure out & realistically look at all options, I simply let each day go by without commiting to surgery. Just couldnt do it. My NS put me on anti-seisure meds & I just got on with my life. It wasnt until April 2017 that I started to have real problems..MRI was done & the tumour has shrunk 10% in size & its shape changed. So I knew I had to go ahead with the surgery. I will not get into the details - I dont want to add any more to your worry. My reason in replying to you is that you MUST ask your NS about the post surgery outcomes & your quality of life! I didnt not - didnt really know ai should ask those ki ds of questions & my bloody NS never, ever told me about the problems I most likely would happen. My head healed well, the tumour was removed successfully but ....
Do as.much research about after-effects & what will be your quality of life & the provlems you will have. it is such a decision to reach. I wish you well!!!!

Robin, you asked "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? That is an excellent question. Like Scott says, every person's situation is different. My understanding is watch and wait is recommended when the risk of growth is lower than the risk and/or side effects of treatment. That is a dreadful over simplification. It is better explained here: https://www.braintumour.ca/5833/ask-the-expert-the-wait-and-see-approach

We have several members living with meningioma who have had treatment and others who are under "active surviellance" (my preferred term to watch and wait). Let me bring a few more members into this discussion @eleanor1931seminara1931 @pegorr @lindajean @barbarabx @nancye3 @cnesselroad.

If I were you, I'd ask the surgeon to explain more specifically about the position and rate of growth that may lead to needing surgery later. And if surgery is inevitable, why not sooner?

Hi @bjh369 Always hard when we get into the waiting and watching times with our medical journeys. Plus the kinds of decisions you are having to make are incredibly difficult ones. All I can say is when my wife was presented with care options she did her best to gather all the input and information she could and then made her personal choice based on her mantra of always opting for the choice she felt was offering the best quality of life for her, even if it wasn't the one that might have meant more quantity.

Best of wishes and strength to you!

I've got a watch area where a new tumor is trying to form just a bit below where they took out the 7.2cm one. They want me to go back on double temozolomide and I really don't want to and at 66 I would not like anymore surgery.

Anyone ever try accupuncture for treatment of their meningioma? I am on "watch and wait" and would like to avoid syrgery! I'm 67 years old. I have slight headaches and dizziness. I have ringing in my ears that comes and goes. Worry seems to increase my symptoms. Golfing always helps! Thanks for all of ypur posts. Knowledge is power.

I didn't even know I had the seizure until the next day, my husband thought I had one related to medication I was on, I had an MRI in November because I thought I was having symptoms related to ms which runs in my family, balance issues, weakness in my legs and just feeling tired. They found the 6mm meningioma on superior frontal lobe on left side. Since the diagnosis I just didn't want to think about it and go on with life. Then 3 weeks ago I started having headaches and then my husband told me about the seizure. I have also been terribly tired and feeling exhausted. Also I'm forgetful I went to my follow up and dr is going to do an eeg, and in may wants to do an angiogram and repeat MRI. I thought ok I will repeat test and if I'm still uncomfortable with him I will go to Nebraska Medicine which supposedly have good neuro oncology drs. I just worry because of my symptoms now. I feel they are related to the meningioma.

I didn't even know I had the seizure until the next day, my husband thought I had one related to medication I was on, I had an MRI in November because I thought I was having symptoms related to ms which runs in my family, balance issues, weakness in my legs and just feeling tired. They found the 6mm meningioma on superior frontal lobe on left side. Since the diagnosis I just didn't want to think about it and go on with life. Then 3 weeks ago I started having headaches and then my husband told me about the seizure. I have also been terribly tired and feeling exhausted. Also I'm forgetful I went to my follow up and dr is going to do an eeg, and in may wants to do an angiogram and repeat MRI. I thought ok I will repeat test and if I'm still uncomfortable with him I will go to Nebraska Medicine which supposedly have good neuro oncology drs. I just worry because of my symptoms now. I feel they are related to the meningioma.

The dr didn't seem to be concerned and kept repeating that these meningioma are always slow growing and would be decades before I noticed symptoms, however I have never had a seizure before and have only had the 1 so far. The migraines are persistent and these symptoms have only been present for about 3 weeks. Thank you for your reply, I was thinking about going to a neuro oncology doctor just to make sure all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed. Especially because I have other health issues
I pray that you get to feeling well and I will pray for a speedy recovery!! God bless