I do have an appointment with another neurosurgen for a second opinion on the 4th but wanted a general third opinion also. He did say there were risks, but he also said that the angioma could bleed again, and cause paralysis like it did in my dad. Dear Julie, A cavernous angioma is a benign tangle of blood vessel that may occur anywhere in the brain or spinal cord. They have a tendency to bleed, though the bleeds are not typically catastrophic. They may present with symptoms from bleeding and mass effect in the brain or spinal cord, as well as seizures in those of the brain.
Radiation is of no proven benefit.
The risk in not treating them is that they may bleed again and cause further neurological deficits. Your symptoms are referable to the cavernoma of the spinal cord and most surgeons would recommend to have it removed. The risk to causing damage is low while the benefit to you is likely to be significant in the long run. Your history is a bit complicated in that there is a family history of cavernous malformations and you stated that you have other known cavernomas in the brain. This should be an indication to get the rest of the family checked out in the near future.