I’m a 23-year-old male recently diagnosed with a brain tumor measuring roughly 3mm by 7mm. Because of a different cancer I had as a child, I’ve been getting annual brain MRIs. After finding this new growth, doctors reviewed my old scans and realized it’s actually been there for about four years, just growing incredibly slowly. It’s situated on the left side, slightly above my ear. My neurosurgeon believes the surgery will be successful with no lasting side effects. However, he’s advised against operating right now because the tumor is so tiny it would be hard to spot during the procedure, potentially leading to more brain tissue being removed than needed. Additionally, there wouldn’t be enough tissue for pathology to decide if I need follow-up chemo or radiation. Instead, he suggests MRIs every three months until it’s large enough for removal. While I respect his expertise and reputation, it feels strange to just let a tumor grow. Is this standard practice? The doctor suspects it’s either an Astrocytoma or an Oligodendroglioma.
I’m not a specialist myself, so I can’t offer technical explanations beyond what you’ve already been told. That said, the logic he provided seems quite sound to me.
You mentioned brain cancer at the start, but the specific types you named at the end are often benign. What makes you certain it’s malignant?
Speaking as a neurosurgeon, I’m in full agreement with your doctor and the other experts here. Locating a 7x3mm mass anywhere in the brain is difficult. If it’s in the left temporal or frontal lobe, you really don’t want a surgeon searching for something the size of a pea that might look identical to healthy tissue. Those regions control speech and language, so avoiding unnecessary interference is crucial. Monitoring with an MRI every three months is the most vigilant approach and a very solid plan.