Watching a Meningioma Brain Tumor

Hey there. New Dr says it grew 1mm in 6 months and bc of the location, he doesn’t recommend surgery. He recommends doing radiation over the course of a month in small doses.
I would prefer 1 dose witn the gamma knife so I’m praying that is a good option. Many thx for reaching out. How are u doing?

@bellachele68, welcome. What type of surgery will you be having? Is gamma knife an option for you?

@pixie49247 and @courtneyizquierdo, checking with you two too. How are you doing?

👋 I had a similar opportunity to wait and watch on two meningioma lesions. One is not located in an area they feel comfortable removing the growth from and is about 5/8 inch. The other is approximately 1 inch and in an easier location to remove. I decided not to watch and wait on removing the one inch growth. I will be 55 in July, But I am not going to get younger or healthier. If this is remotely connected to some fatigue, foggy thinking, memory problems, I don’t want to continue battling the frustration. My symptoms could also be menopause related, or related to my autoimmune (Hashimotos)—however this is a known factor and will only eventually have to come out, so I have asked my neurosurgeon to schedule the procedure at the end of August.

Thanks. I hope I’m as lucky as you that I’ll just wait and watch . I see the neurosurgeon in 3 weeks.

It is scary. But hopefully you will find that it stays small and doesn’t cause you any problems. It’s stressful to live with but it’s better to have a meningioma than the type that are cancerous. I’ve managed to live 14 years with mine and on the last check it had not grown at all as compared to the previous year. Good luck to you.

I’m sort of in the same boat.
Which doctor to choose /which approach to choose, etc. I’m waiting and watching and my anxiety and depression have turned me into someone I don’t even know. I haven’t had any energy and I cry most days. I’m on antidepressants and anti-anxiety, but I wonder if it’s the tumor causing this.
The doctors say no, bc of the location of the tumor. I was diagnosed last august and I feel like I’ve lost almost a year of my life living in fear/depression/personality changes/mood swings.

I just found out I have a small one on a MRI for something else. I’m getting an appointment with a neurologist. I’m hoping for a wait and watch. Thankfully most are benign. I’m pretty scared right now

I am 64 and was diagnosed 13 years ago with meningioma that started gum ball size and is now golf sized. I have no symptoms. I have been able to become comfortable with active surveillance over the years but was initially very upset and frightened. In my case it has been possible to live a normal life for years after diagnosis.

That it was wonderful news however don't stop getting follow ups. It was 14 years from the time mine was found until the time it had grown large and caused strokes and emergency surgery. I failed to follow up for many years before this happened because I felt fine and assumed I was fine and didn't want to go and have MRIs done.

You are fortunate.