Diagnosis & Plan - Update

I wanted to provide an update to the original post, since some common questions came up.  Also, here are some pictures to better show what I'm describing.

Symptoms

My only symptom I had before the diagnosis was the hearing loss and ringing.  I did not experience any pain, nausea, loss of energy, loss of balance, weight loss, or any thing else that made me think this was a serious issue.

Radiation Treatment

The treatment plan does not include any surgery.  Because the tumor is located in a hard to reach place in my head, surgery is not typically part of the treatment plan for this type of cancer.  

Each of the 35 planned radiation treatments lasts about 10 minutes each.  I lie down on a table and then my customized perforated plastic mask is fitted and locked into place.   This holds me in place while the machine targets the tumor.  I get to keep the mask after treatment, and I've already got a number of ideas of what to do with it.   

My custom mask.  Halloween can't come soon enough

Chemotherapy

My chemotherapy dosage is pretty moderate.  The doctors don't expect that hair loss will be a side effect of the chemo.  Before starting chemo, the doctors put in a port.  This is a device that attaches a catheter to my veins make the infusions much easier.  The procedure was pretty straightforward, though the recovery to be able to lift and exercise takes a few weeks.

I may have still been in the fentanyl twilight zone

On the other hand, given the skin sensitivity from radiation (they compare it to having a sunburn), it may make it more challenging to shave.  Thus, there is a chance that I'll have a very, very scraggly 3-5 week facial hair growth.  It'll look like 2-3 days worth of growth for some of you.  There is a reason I've never tried to include facial hair as part of my "look!"