Friday 12 October 2018

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.

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