Probable meningioma - should I worry about mets?

AnnAlive

Here I am 4 years out of stage III diagnosis, just had my 6 mo checkup, with normal labs. I reported to my MO that I have a problem with blurred vision (an occasional problem since chemo, but recently more severe), and that after 3 optometrist exams in the previous weeks, I could not get a correct prescription for glasses after 3 tries -- always ends up blurry with the new lenses. She did a quick peripheral vision test, which I didn't do so well on, unsure how many fingers she was holding up. So, without asking me other symptoms, she ordered a brain MRI, which took 2 weeks for my insurance to approve. MRI report impression: "6 mm dural based homogeneously enhancing right middle cranial fossa lesion most likely represents an incidental lesion and is most consistent with a meningioma" with suggested follow up with another MRI in 2-3 months.

I realize that "incidental" in the description implies that the lesion could have been there a while not causing any problem, unrelated to my blurred vision. I have no previous brain scans for comparison, so it is unknown when this lesion appeared. I have also read about meningiomas being related to breast cancer, but studies seem to conflict.

The nurse said my onc is referring me to a neurosurgeon, and when I delivered the CD with the MRI images, the neurosurgeon's front desk person told me I would hear from them in 7 to 10 business days! She said she could not schedule an appointment for me until after they (3 docs in practice) have evaluated the MRI and decide if they can do anything for me! What? And she said that they are currently scheduling into July (I supposed it could be August by the time I get an appointment since they are in only 2 days/week, doing surgery other days).

What am I to do? Should I wait this out for 2-3-4 weeks to find out what this neurosurgeon recommends? If the lesion could be a brain met, shouldn't it be evaluated quicker, perhaps with additional imaging? I do have miscellaneous other "brain" symptoms besides blurred vision -- increased forgetfulness, short term memory loss, loss of concentration, irritability, and the like (no headaches), but these may be unrelated to the lesion. Should I consider going out of town to a bigger cancer center or to a practice where I can have quicker follow up? I called my MO's office today and just got a response from the nurse that my MO says it's fine to wait several weeks for follow up with the neurosurgeon. Anyone have experience with this?

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SpecialK

Sending you a PM.

AnnAlive

Thanks, SpecialK. I'll be researching and hope to get a lot smarter in the next few weeks.

And praying and learning to be patient.