How to Prepare for Brain Tumor Surgery

It is vitally important to enter into brain tumor surgery with a positive attitude. While the extent of involvement, type of tumor and surgical skill all play a role in the surgical outcome, going into the procedure with a sense of well being will help prepare your body to respond more effectively. Prepare yourself for a lengthy and possibly arduous recovery process, and expect good results.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Neurosurgeon

Learn About Brain Tumor Surgery

1. Removing a brain tumor requires the expertise of neurosurgeons specially trained in the techniques of removing as much of the tumor as possible without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue. This is a very delicate call, especially if the tumor is malignant.
2. Surgery to remove a benign brain tumor may resolve the problem without the necessity of any further treatment. Malignant tumors are life-threatening and usually require additional measures, such as radiation.
3. Brain surgery may be the only way to determine if the tumor is benign or malignant. Examination of the tissue under a microscope is the only way to confirm the diagnosis in some cases.
4. Brain tumor surgery may be necessary for clarifying the extent of the tumor. It is hard to define the borders of some tumors until they can actually be viewed by the neurosurgeon.
5. Allow access to the brain tumor via surgery to implant radiation pellets. Some tumors are inoperable and the only way to treat them effectively is with direct radiation contact.

Define the Tools of Surgery

6. There may be several tools used during surgery for a brain tumor.
7. Learn about stereotactic localization, the process of securing the patient's head in a rigid frame and using a scanning device to accurately locate the tumor. This form of radiosurgery uses the latest imaging technology to focus radiation with pinpoint accuracy without the need for an incision. The radiation kills only the precise tissue in focus without damaging healthy tissue.
8. Expect a laser to be used in the surgical process to vaporize tumor cells. It may be used in conjunction with the scalpel and stereotactic localization.

Tips & Warnings

• Be involved in the choice of surgical intervention. Prepare yourself by reading the latest information from sources such as the National Brain Tumor Foundation (see Resources below).
• There is a difference between a primary brain tumor and a metastatic brain tumor. Metastatic brain tumors have spread from some other part of the body. This may require additional surgical or therapeutic intervention.