It is a tumour of the tissue that covers nerves, called the nerve sheath. These tumours develop from a type of cell called a Schwann cell, which gives them their name. Schwannomas are often not cancerous (benign). The most common type of benign schwannoma is the acoustic neuroma. This can cause deafness because it grows on a nerve called the 8th cranial nerve, which controls hearing.
The good news is my particular alien is not attached to my 8th cranial nerve and thus my hearing will not be affected. Mine happens to be attached to my vagus nerve. The what?
The vagus nerve is either one of two cranial nerves which are extremely long, extending from the brain stem all the way to the viscera. Thevagus nerves carry a wide assortment of signals to and from the brain, and they are responsible for a number of instinctive responses in the body. You may also hear the vagus nerve called Cranial Nerve X, as it is the 10th cranial nerve, or the Wandering Nerve. A great deal of research has been carried out on the vagus nerve, as it is a rather fascinating cranial nerve.
Vagus is Latin for “wandering,” and it is an accurate description of this nerve, which emerges at the back of the skull and meanders in a leisurely way through the abdomen, with a number of branching nerves coming into contact with the heart, lungs, voicebox, stomach, and ears, among other body parts. The vagus nerve carries incoming information from the nervous system to the brain, providing information about what the body is doing, and it also transmits outgoing information which governs a range of reflex responses.
This thing has attached itself to the area near my throat. The other good news is only about 1% are malignant so the odds of this thing being cancerous is very slim. All my bloodwork and biopsies came up cancer free so the odds are in my favor. It is a slow growing tumor so I've obviously have had it for a very long time.
I am booked in at PLH for surgery on June 2 for removal. The bad news is that due to where the thing is located, once the nerve is touched it becomes damaged forever. This means there is a chance my voice will change...and not for the better. There aren't many details yet but it is something I will have to deal with after I have healed. I will be in the hospital for roughly 5 days and then on extended rest until I am healed. It will be a scary process but I will get through it.
For now I am off Thursday morning on a wonderful 8 day holiday with the Guy to try and destress before the madness starts. Keep me in your thoughts. I am fine, my health is fine, this is just a little bump in the road of life.
Peace out.
