Cure or Long-Term Control
For many benign (non-cancerous) tumours, such as meningiomas or pituitary adenomas, complete surgical resection can be curative. This means that after the surgery, no further treatment may be needed, and the patient can be considered cured of the disease. For malignant (cancerous) tumours, such as glioblastomas, a maximal safe resection is the single most important factor influencing a patient’s survival. Even if a cure isn’t possible, removing the bulk of the tumour significantly extends life expectancy and improves the patient’s quality of life.
Psychological and Emotional Advantages of Brain Tumour Surgery
Beyond the physical benefits, brain tumour surgery offers significant psychological and emotional relief. Let’s look at the table to have a better idea:
FAQs
- Is brain tumour surgery always the best option?
- No. The decision depends on the tumour’s size, type, location, and the patient’s overall health. While surgery is the primary treatment for most tumours, especially malignant ones, other options like radiation, chemotherapy, or active monitoring may be better for small or high-risk tumours.
- How long does recovery take?
- Recovery varies. A hospital stay can be a few days to a week. Full recovery, which may include rehabilitation, can take several weeks to months. The recovery timeline depends on the surgery type and the patient’s pre-operative health.
- Will I be awake during the surgery?
- Most patients are under general anaesthesia. However, an “awake craniotomy” may be performed for tumours in critical brain areas. This allows surgeons to monitor a patient’s function in real-time to ensure the maximum amount of tumour is removed without causing neurological damage.
- What is the difference between a biopsy and a full tumour removal?
- A biopsy removes a small piece of tissue for a diagnosis, while a resection (full tumour removal) aims to remove as much of the tumour as safely possible. A biopsy is done for diagnostic purposes, while a resection is both diagnostic and therapeutic, seeking to treat the tumour by removing it.