Hi new here and absolutely terrified but trying to be brave.
I'm 56 and myself and my husband found out two weeks ago that I have a brain tumour called meningioma, reading my patient copy of the letter 14mm, right, frontal, extra axial mass with radiological features favouring a meningioma.
I have constant pins and needles all done my left arm and leg with the added bonus of pins and needles or numbness on my left foot. The foot sensation is not quite as bad as atm its not constant.
I'm currently waiting for MRI with contrast and I think the surgeon says with myself it will be a watch and wait but I'm finding the loss of balance I'm experiencing difficulty but I can cope with that, and I don't want to sound a moan but I can't cope with the constant pins and needles on my left arm and leg.
I also have Crohns, RA and Fibromyalgia so I did put the symptoms down to a Fibro flare hence why the news two weeks ago came as a shock as I was told by my GP that the CT scan was fine with slight thickening on right hand side of brain and that will more than likely explain the weakness, numbness and loss of balance as the right side of the brain controls the left.
To say we were unprepared is a understatement, think I'm still in shock and I know I'm extremely scared.
Sorry for the long 1st post.
If anyone can relate to this I would love some feedback, advice basically anything.
Hi Badger
Welcome to the Online Community and the brain cancer forum.
I am really sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with a meningioma and I understand that it is a really scary time.
Hopefully the MRI can be done very soon and then you will know what is likely to happen next.
The pins and needles feeling, loss of balance and numbness must be difficult to cope with.
What I would expect to happen next is for the MRI results plus all other results will be sent to a multi disciplinary team meeting where your case will be reviewed. Then I would expect you to be called into discuss what happens next. It maybe an idea to start making a note of anything that you want to ask about so you can prepare. I know for me my mind would often go a bit blank in important meetings.
This could also be a time to bring up the current symptoms you are having and to see whether there is any possible treatment for them.
Having an unexpected diagnosis can be a very challenging time and one where you have lots of questions. It is natural to feel very up and down and my advice would be to go with the flow a bit with how you are feeling. I know for my own cancer treatment, once I knew what was going to happen and when, things felt a bit more under control. if at any point you feel like talking things through would help, then please do give the Support Line a call. They are there from 8am-8pm daily. The nurses can also go through any medical questions you may have as well as offering a listening ear.
I know during my own cancer diagnosis and treatment having some information helped so I will pop a link below for some info that you may want to consider looking at. It may help you work out what you want to ask about when you see the consultant.
Meningioma in adults | Macmillan Cancer Support
I wish you well for your MRI and hope that you can have a plan in place as soon as possible. In the meantime we are here if you need us.
Jane
