Hi. I was recently diagnosed with a large acustic nuroma. Whats the difference between me and most people diagnosed? I'm only 25. My hearing is still rather good, as is my balance but the tumor is large enough that it needs to come out. Due to my age the doctors don't think radiation is a good option as it has a shelf life and bad long term effects. I am just looking for people like me, who have gone through this, for moral support and/or tips on how to deal with this, as I am exceptionally scared.
The good news: you are young and otherwise healthy. You can hear rather well in that ear. It's NOT cancer. It's slow-growing. Surgery almost always has a good outcome.
Of course any surgery is very scarey, especially if this is your first major surgery. But you are young and supposedly (you didn't mention...) otherwise healthy I'm guessing, so you are going to be FINE.
Read up on this condition on this actual website. They have some great info to share. And, yep, I've seen the condition you speak of, although not myself: my brother. He had surgery at the age of 45 and 6 years later is absolutely fine with no lasting damage except for some ringing of the ear.
Best of Luck to you. You are gonna do great!!!
Thank you so much. It's great to hear your brother is doing so well! And it is a relief to hear a stories that has such a happy ending.
Transpella,
I also am 25 and was just diagnosed in April with an acustic nuroma. I didnt have any hearing damage or balance issues. Infact if I would not have done an MRI for a different reason I would have not even known! My tumor was rapidly growing and large so we had to act fast. I, like you was terrified and didnt want to lose my hearing or function. I chose the gamma knife option to start. The treatment was very simple and aside from the head frame, painless. Either way you go there is a risk for hearing damage, however open surgery has more risks involved. Talk to your doctors alot and ask every question you can think of, get phone numbers and emails so you can contact them later when you think of things after the shock. Make sure you take multiple people to appointments and write things down!
As snickerdoodle46 said, be thankful it isnt cancer! The best thing I did was take a day or two to cry, greive and panic then face it head on and be as prepared as you can be.