A New Me Blog

#69 Is It Growing?
Tuesday, February 4, 2025 by Deb Vellines

It doesn’t matter where we are on this AN journey – pre or post-surgery, radiation, or watch and wait – this question can raise its ugly head. For me, it usually happens with a symptom that might or might not have anything to do with the neuroma.

No matter when the question happens, it’s scary.

Let’s say you are “watching and waiting” for a very small tumor. But we have all heard stories about someone who waited years with a 5 mm tumor and suddenly, within months, it grew enough to require treatment.

We have also heard about someone who had radiation and subsequent MRIs showed shrinking and what looked like the death of the tumor. Then without warning, it started to grow again and even required surgery.

Then, of course, there are those who had surgery and were told, “A few cells were left behind to preserve the nerve.” And you guessed it, they had regrowth and needed either more surgery or radiation.

These case histories and more fill our minds when we question whether our own tumor is growing. Acoustic neuromas are strange tumors indeed and do crazy things.

It’s easy to blame a symptom on something else. In my case (at age 80), I often think that’s old age, or the weather, or stress or . . . you name it. But if the worry persists because the symptom doesn’t go away or even gets worse, then it’s time to reach out to the doctor and ask about the timing of the next MRI.

The MRI answers the growth question – usually. Keep in mind two doctors can look at the same MRI and read it a bit differently by a few millimeters. Maybe the tumor in one dimension was 8 mm’s and now they tell you it’s 9 mm. You think, “Yikes, it’s growing.” Well, maybe and maybe not. It could be a second doctor reads it just a bit differently. You might have to wait and get a repeat MRI.

A good place to share your fears is at a support group meeting. You can be sure others have shared the same fears. https://www.anausa.org/programs/support-groups/upcoming-events This link connects with support group meetings. Most are online and you don’t have to be a member to attend. Preregistration is usually required because of space limitations.

*****

Readers: How often do you wonder if the acoustic neuroma is growing? At what point do you call the doctor?

*****

Dear Lord, Help me to know when I need to call the doctor. Help me to put this tumor in your hands. You will be with me either way, if I need treatment and if I don’t. Amen.

Be strong and courageous . . .  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you.                                                                                                   Deuteronomy 31:7-8


Previous Posts

# 77 – 21 Stress Busters
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

# 76 Claustrophobia
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#75 Facial Issues
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#74 Phantom Sounds
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#73 Walk Without Falling
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#72 AN Awareness Week
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

# 71 Hearing Loss
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#70 Understanding Changes
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#69 Is It Growing?
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#68 AN Facebook Group
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#67 Turn Off Anxiety
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#66 Decisions & Stress Busters
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#65 Control and Choices
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#64 Surgeon Questions
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#63 Virtual Education Event
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#62 Three Ways to Connect
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#61 Reminders
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#60 Grocery Shopping
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#59 9 Conversation Hints with Masks
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#58 A New Me & New Ways
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#57 Irritable?
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#56 11 Reasons to Try Chair Yoga
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#55 Hints for the Holiday
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#54 Treatment Ideas for Headaches
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#53 Headaches
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#52 Hyperacusis
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#51 ** 5 Ways to Prevent Falls
Deb Vellines

2/4/2025

#50 Closed Captioning (CC) at the Movies
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#49 Hearing Loss Advice
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#48 Networking8 Networking
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#47 Help Me Hear
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#46 4 YouTube Videos
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#45 Get Connected
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#44 Signia Hearing Aids
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#43 Improving Balance
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#42 Treatment of Depression
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#41 Depression
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#40 ** 7 Ways to Fight Brain Fog
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#39 ** 5 Fatigue Busters
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#38 Tinnitus
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#37 Phonak CROS Hearing Aids
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#36 Hearing Devices
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#35 Single Sided Deafness
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

# 34 Post Treatment
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#33 Treatment
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#32 A Hit Over the Head
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#31 National Symposium
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#30 Knots with Purpose
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#29 A Time to Kill
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#28 A Letter
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#27 Peace With Trust
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#26 Joy is a Choice
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#25 Flat Emotion
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#24 New Thoughts
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#23 Acceptance?
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#22 Help!
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

#21 Crying
Deb Vellines

2/3/2025

# 20 Full Plate
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#19 Concentration
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#18 Worry versus Trust
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#17 For Healing
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#16 Who’s in Control?
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#15 Depression
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

# 13 Doctor (specialist)
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#14 Different Treatments
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#11 Support Group
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

#12 Thank You
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

Step # 10 Questions
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

Step # 9 Bargaining
Deb Vellines

2/2/2025

Step #8 Energy
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step # 7 – Reactions – of others
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step #6 – Do I share my News?
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step #4 – To stay calm waiting for test results
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step #5 – Why?
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step #3 – Courage – to make an appointment for a test.
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step #2 – Wisdom – for the doctor
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025

Step #1 – Wisdom – to know when to call the doctor
Deb Vellines

2/1/2025