Question 1

How risky is the surgery?

Accepted Answer

Brain surgery is a lot more risky than other surgeries. However, neurosurgeons are experts who are very thorough and ensure no complications arise. Make sure you choose an expert neurologist near you and the best neurology hospital to get the best care possible.

Question 2

How to prepare for a brain tumour surgery?

Accepted Answer

Your doctor will give you detailed instructions on preparing for the brain tumour surgery. Inform the doctor about medications that you are on, including over-the-counter medications and supplements. Let your doctor know about any allergies you have, surgeries you had in the past, and if you have been drinking alcohol.

Question 3

What is the outlook after a brain tumour surgery? What are my chances of survival?

Accepted Answer

The outlook after a brain tumour operation depends on the size, type, and location of the tumour and your general health. It also depends on whether there were any complications during or after the surgery. The earlier the brain tumour is detected and operated upon, the better your chances of survival are. With advanced medical technology, surgical complications have become rare, and the outlook is positive.

Question 4

Will an awake craniotomy hurt?

Accepted Answer

An awake craniotomy will not hurt. You will be given a drip to make you feel relaxed and comfortable. A local anaesthetic will be administered around the site of the incision. You will be able to see your team of doctors and talk to them. While removing the tumour, the surgeon will continuously test functions like speech, movement, sight, and hearing. If anything changes, the surgeon can stop the surgery to ensure that your vital body functions are not affected.

Question 5

Do I continue to take my medication before the surgery?

Accepted Answer

In the days before the surgery, you may have to stop taking medication. Your doctor will let you know when you should stop taking them.

Question 6

Can I eat and drink the night before the surgery?

Accepted Answer

Ideally, you should not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the surgery. You can eat something light before midnight to avoid feeling hungry in the morning. You can have small sips of water until 2 hours before the surgery, if your surgeon permits.

Question 7

Who will perform the surgery and how long does it take?

Accepted Answer

A team of specialised neurosurgeons and anaesthetists will perform the operation. Keyhole surgery for a brain tumour can take up to 3 hours, while a regular craniotomy can take 3-5 hours. An awake craniotomy can take 5-7 hours.

Question 8

How painful will it be after the brain tumour surgery? How will the pain be managed?

Accepted Answer

You will be on intravenous pain medication after the surgery and will therefore not feel any pain. You may get headaches, and the operated area may feel tender. This can be managed with pain medication prescribed by your doctor. Once the IV medication stops, your doctor will give you pain pills to manage the pain.

Question 9

For how long do I need to stay in the hospital?

Accepted Answer

The duration of stay for brain surgery is about 3 days. Your stay may be longer if you have any post-surgical problems.

Question 10

What kind of care should I take after discharge?

Accepted Answer

After discharge, you will need to avoid lifting heavy objects for 4 weeks. You will also have to avoid getting constipated and pushing hard during bowel movements for 4 weeks. You also need to avoid physical exertion caused by working, running, exercising, etc.

Question 11

When should I call a doctor?

Accepted Answer

You will have to keep an eye out for symptoms such as:

Fever higher than 101.5 degrees
Seizures
Sudden weakness or pain in legs and arms
Bad headache
Change in your mental status
Confusion
Redness or swelling at the site of the incision
Liquid draining from the site of the incision.

If you experience any of these problems, you should call your doctor right away.

Question 12

What kind of questions should I ask my doctor before surgery?

Accepted Answer

It is best to be well-informed before your brain tumour surgery. Ask your doctor questions like:

What kind of tumour do I have and where is it located?
What size is it, and how aggressive is it?
Is the tumour benign or malignant?
How can this be treated?
Can the treatment cure me completely?
Do I need to see a specialist?
How will the treatment cost and can I use insurance to cover the cost?

Question 13

What are the first signs of a brain tumour?

Accepted Answer

Cancer that has spread to the brain from another part of the body is called a metastatic brain tumour, which is much more common than primary tumours. The early signs may vary depending on the type, size, and exact location of the tumour in the brain. Following are some general signs and symptoms.

Personality changes or mood swings
Headache
Memory loss and confusion
Gradual loss of sensation or movement in an arm or a leg
Problems balancing or walking
Muscle jerking or twitching
Fatigue
Depression
Nausea and vomiting
Weakness and numbness
Seizures or convulsions

Question 14

How can I test myself for a brain tumour?

Accepted Answer

If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above in your daily life, then go visit a doctor. They can best guide you.

Question 15

What procedures and tests diagnose the type and grade of a brain tumour?

Accepted Answer

If you have signs and symptoms of a brain tumour, then your doctor will do a physical exam, ask about your and your family's medical history and ask you to do one or more of the following tests.

Neurologic exam
MRI
CT scan
Angiogram
Spinal Tap
Biopsy

Question 16

What are the treatment options for brain tumours?

Accepted Answer

For a low-grade tumour, like Glioma, the doctor usually keeps the patient under observation. For a high-grade tumour, the treatment could be radiation or chemotherapy. For metastatic tumours, the patient has already known or suffered cancer somewhere else in his body, the treatment involves surgery followed by focus radiation. For Meningioma, the treatment after surgery involves observation. Certain meningiomas need more treatment than just surgery. They may regrow, or they may have biological potential and are a little more aggressive. Those might need radiation.

Question 17

What causes brain tumours?

Accepted Answer

Adult brain tumours are masses of abnormal cells that generally occur in adults and result from the uncontrolled growth of those cells within the brain. The causes of brain tumours are not fully understood in medical science, but there are a few well-established risk factors for the cause. When the human body cells grow and divide into new cells, oncogenes help them stay alive. Tumour suppressor genes help keep cell division under control or make cells die at the right time. Cancers can be caused by DNA changes that turn on oncogenes or turn off tumour suppressor genes.

Question 18

What should I bring to my consultation with the neurosurgeon at Narayana Health?

Accepted Answer

If you have been diagnosed with a brain tumour and have an appointment to consult a neurosurgeon at Narayana Health, you need to bring all brain images with reports. If you’ve had surgery, bring the MRI reports, along with the most recent pathology reports of the tests you went through.

Question 19

When can my family members visit me post-surgery?

Accepted Answer

After the surgery is done, you will be commuted to the PACU or Post Anaesthesia Care Unit and then to Neuro ICU where your family members can meet you for an allowed time.

Question 20

Do brain tumours or brain cancers run in family lines?

Accepted Answer

Yes, brain tumours also run in family lines & are hereditary. A significant mutation in the genes may cause a tumour to develop in the brain. People with these genetic conditions have an increased risk of developing brain tumours which run in families:

Neurofibromatosis
von Hippel-Lindau disease
Li-Fraumeni syndrome
Retinoblastoma

Question 21

How do I find a doctor for my brain tumour surgery?

Accepted Answer

Brain tumour treatment requires an intensive approach by the neurosurgeon. If you are looking for experienced neurosurgeons in India, you can consult Narayana Health. We have state-of-the-art techniques and equipment to make brain surgery a success.

Question 22

Are there any risks involved with brain tumour surgery?

Accepted Answer

Brain tumour treatment is a major medical event, so some risks can be expected. They may include:

Allergic reaction to anaesthesia
Bleeding
Brain swelling
Coma
Impaired speech
Impaired vision
Infection in the brain
Memory problems
Seizures
Stroke
Weakness of body parts

Question 23

What is a brain tumor?

Accepted Answer

A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells in the brain that can affect brain function and may be benign or malignant.

Brain Tumour