[NPInfo] RE: [NP-Clinical] update on my sister's mass

[Havens, Shelby]

Dear Greta:

That is great news! I am happy for you and your sister that the surgery
had a positive outcome. What a relief.

Best Regards,

Shelby Havens, ARNP



-----Original Message-----
From: np-clinical-bounces at nurse.net
[mailto:np-clinical-bounces at nurse.net] On Behalf Of GRETAOB at aol.com
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 3:34 PM
To: np-clinical at nurse.net; NPInfo at nurse.net
Subject: [NP-Clinical] update on my sister's mass

Thank you to those of you who provided me with information and support
in regards to my sister's mediastinal mass.  I wanted to provide you
with an update:

The mass proved to be a posterior mediastinal mass.   It was impinging
on her esophagus and trachea.  Upon further scans they decided to take
her to surgery.  The mass was larger than they expected but they were
able to remove it and some surrounding lymph nodes.  She required a
chest tube and was in ICU for 2 days.  

Fortunately, it proved to be a benign schwannoma, a tumor arising from
nerve sheath.  They're usually benign as it was in my sister's case.
The most common type of this tumor affects the eighth cranial nerve and
hearing loss is a common symptom (also known as vestibular schwannomas
or acoustic neuromas).  The schwannomas that can arise from
neurofibromatosis are much more likely to be malignant.  

As in the case of my sister, schwannomas also appear on the roots of the
nerves that come off of the spinal cord.  They are slow growing (my
sister apparently had a chest xray several years ago that revealed a
mediastinal widening and the radiologist recommended a CT scan for
further evaluation; her physician failed to note this).  She was
asymptomatic until a few days before this admission and even though it
was found to be impinging on her trachea, she exercised just a few days
prior to diagnosis.  

Within 24 hours after the surgery, her trachea and esophagus were back
in place.  She states the chest tube removal was the most painful
experience.  She is extremely fatigued but improving every day.
 
When I looked up some info on this type of tumor, I ran into a you-tube
video for a patient who was to have his schwannoma removed.  It was set
to the tune of My Sharona.  Very fitting.
 
Thank you again,
Greta
 



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