Any radiologists who can help? Brain mass

[SallyJupiter]

Hi everyone.

They've found a mass in my husband's brain and I am petrified. He had an aura with no headache for about 40 mins last Tuesday and was referred to the stroke clinic. They weren't concerned and sent him home. We booked a private MRI and that's when they found it. They don't think it's connected to the aura but he's never had one before so 🤷🏼‍♀️.

Anyway, the radiographer said he was pretty sure it is benign, and my husband has no other symptoms other than very occasional, very mild headaches. We would have had no idea if we hadn't booked that scan.

We have 3 young children, the youngest is only 8 months old. We are waiting to see the neuros at Bristol hospital.

Are there any radiologists or neuros here who would be happy to answer some questions about the initial findings/scans please?

The report says they suspect a glioma which from what I've read is actually not a good thing in adults, so not sure why the consultant said he thought it was benign??

Sorry to word salad. I'm absolutely terrified.

I work in this area, it wouldn’t be appropriate for anyone to comment or give an opinion other than your medical team. Chase the appointment or ask the private team for an urgent appointment. All the best.

Don’t google. Agree with PP , chase up the appointment. No one else can advise until you know what you’re dealing with. Sending good luck… x

Thanks guys.

I thought that would be the response but I just panicked, especially in the evenings.

He's been urgently referred already so we'll wait to hear from the hospital.

Should we be reassured that the original radiographer did state that he was quite sure it is benign?

The others are right and it is only the doctors that can help, but oh I understand your need to talk and post about it.

I don't know if the original radiographer was right, but when my son had the first MRI they said they suspected cancer and but that we would need more tests, so I guess with experience people can have educated guess.

The waiting is the worst, I hope he gets seen soon.

I’m surprised the radiologist commented. My friend had a week from hell waiting from results from a brain scan (for vertigo). He saw a mass on the scan as he was leaving t and the radiologist said he couldn’t comment on it. A week later he was told by the consultant it was a benign tumour and is better thought of as a birth mark rather than a tumour. Vertigo was being caused by something else on further explorations. I suppose what I’m trying to say is just wait as hard as it is for the appt to go through results and stay away from Google xxx

The waiting is torture. Part of me likes the little ignorance bubble though. I'm worried that my husband is absolutely fine, and that it will be the investigations and treatment that might make him feel unwell and not whatever it is that's growing. I just can't believe this is happening.

So sorry to hear about your son. How is he doing?

Me too actually. I think he was more concerned about the early hydrocephalus the mass is causing rather than the lump itself. It's partially blocking a ventricle. I'm grateful that he did, but I am worried about relying on his assertions too much and being blindsided. I do hope though that, seeing as they look at these things day in, day out that they have a pretty good idea of which direction to lean in 🤞🏼.

I have some experience of this OP, there is a massive range of outcomes with brain tumours. When my mother’s tumour was found there were people we met in waiting rooms that had had them for years and sadly others that didn't get long at all. There’s no point speculating, - but please be reassured this is the stuff the NHS does really well. My friend is a medical researcher who has worked all over the world and he says if he was going to get ill, he’d do it here. Best wishes.

We don't know that it is cancer. They think it's benign. But I'm worried about the investigations and the effects they will have.