The Challenges of Surviving and Facing the Brain Tumor

Surviving a disease, as deadly as a brain tumor is half the battle won. Recently, I spoke to various brain tumor survivors from across the country and their journey from being diagnosed with a brain tumour, treatment, to winning the battle!

Millions of people across the world and thousands in India are diagnosed with and go under brain tumor surgery. Despite there being no dearth of technological advancement in brain tumor treatment hospital in India, only one-third of them are able to survive. Life after brain tumor surgery doesn’t come easily to them either. They face several challenges, every day too.

The alteration in their life is the result of the “assault to the brain” done by the surgery, which puts physical, mental, and cognitive barriers on their existence. Chemotherapy and radiations take a heavy toll on their health too. Their likeliness to live independently and have a social life, which is expected normally of any other person their age, is very less.

The Neurologists in India have witnessed many survivors struggling to live normally. They are often subjected to academic struggles and underemployment because of ample cognitive issues such as depreciating memory, executive functioning and emotional regulation. They even struggle to balance themselves to move independently.

The various doctors they ought to consult with for every other issue they face, they are lost in the system because the doctors fail to coordinate amongst themselves, ultimately, leading to added stress and pressure on their already weak brain.

The best way for the survivors to live is to leave the shadow of their past behind and embrace new experiences life brings for them but it becomes very difficult for them with lack of employment and financial assistance from the insurance companies after the treatment. These professional and social struggles are often overlooked when we keep looking at them in the glory of survivors of such a dangerous disease.

3 Important Questions to Ask Your Orthopaedic Surgeons

Planning on making a round to orthopaedic surgeon? Whatever your reasons be- perhaps, get over body pains, hip and knee injuries and fracture or dislocation of bones, there are few critical questions to ask when you finally get to meet them and it makes sense if justice is well done to your questions since you will be using the answers you get to make some life decisions.

May I know your qualifications?

All board-certified orthopaedic surgeons are surgeons but not all surgeons are board-certified orthopaedic surgeons. This is something that effects the working structure, with one certified by the board to be more specific and professional. That said, be sure to ask your surgeon if they have been certified by the institutions and boards for regulating their field of practice- kinesiology and the treatment of ailments relating to musculoskeletal system.

Is there a possibility of using non-invasive approach?

Apparently, invasive and surgical procedures come with risks and implications plus downtime may be a little long compared to non-invasive treatments or alternatives to surgery. So surgery is to be considered if and only if it renders the ultimate resort.

Considering that, it’s imperative to ask your orthopaedic doctor whether an alternative procedure like placing you on some medications and injections, physiotherapy or change of feeding habit can improve your case or help get it over.

What is the downtime?

Often times, most patients before treatment- invasive or non-invasive, want to know how long it takes to recover and get back to doing their usual daily routines. This fact makes this question the most frequently asked. So, why not ask.

Speaking of downtime, it is factored by the treatment procedure applied. As pointed out earlier, a non-invasive procedure, compared to surgery has a short downtime. Lifestyles, feeding habits, supplementary treatments or after surgery treatments, also affect how long patients take to recover.

Also Read - Orthopaedic surgery: 5 things you should know before going under the knife