On 11/30/11, in a Webinar organized by NF Network, Dr Scott Plotkin MD, PhD, shared information for NF2 and of the many important topics discussed included Gene Therapy when a question was asked in reguards to Synthetic Merlin. Merlin, is the tumor suppressor protein involved in NF2 (Neurofibromatosis Type II).

Chemotherapy is believed to be most effective at slowing down, stopping and/ or shrinking NF2-related tumors. None are 100% effective, nor can they be taken indefinitely and side effects need to be monitored to determine when the Chemotherapy treatment should cease.

Organized by NF Network, Dr. Plotkin, of Mass General Hospital did yet another Webinar with the NF2 community. Chemotherapy and an array of treatments were discussed.

For many of us with NF2, there is so much information we need to make sure the doctor is aware of, that assuming we would remember it all during the visit is a bad idea, especially if we have surgery or treatment related questions.

The attached form can be used as a helpful guide to remembering everything you need to talk to your doctor about.

Many of us with NF2 incur some degree of Facial Paralysis. In most cases when this happens it is usually a result of the facial nerve being cut to gain access to a tumor close to or on other nerves that are more important.

There are things that can be done to help the nerve heal that should be considered, which will be discussed here.