Debulking the tumours means removing the tumours. Some choose this option. Seems like a great idea! To some it is (although I have not met any long term ones yet). To some it is not.
What I understand about it ,, and I am no doctor, but from what I understand they cut open the outer membrane of the tumour. They pop out the tumour after carefully resecting it from the 10th cranial nerve. To keep the nerve intact they must leave a very small piece of the tumour or else the 10th nerve gets comprimised. They they resew up that open empty sac.
Here is the part that I have read about, the darn thing can grow back. Bigger, faster and within less time. I have not only read about it, but I have talked to 3 different people who have chose this route and it has grown back even larger within 3-5 yrs. Two different people had it happen twice to them. I am only bringing this up to anyone thinking of having it removed but leaving the vagus nerve intact. Get all the facts and statistics. Not sure how many grow back against how many don't grow back. I have only talked to 3 that have. I have talked to others who had the 10th nerve actaully resected to make sure the entire tumour is removed. This of course creates problems with voice, swallowing ect...
You can always have raditaion to what ever they leave behind then it won't grow back because it's dead. The one patient had that done when she went under for the 3rd time.
Anyway,,, find out every option, get the facts, get the statistics, find the right ENT/Neurologist/Oncologist/Surgeon/Radiologist and do your thing :) (only my very very humble opinion of course)