Brain-specific cancer, mostly termed as a brain tumour, is probably the most dangerous form of malignancy that a person can encounter. Despite a majority of these tumours being benign, threats persist till the time the lump is actually present inside the cranial cavity.
When it comes to ascertaining the probable treatment options, we will keep a majority of this discussion restricted to brain tumour surgery and how to go about the process, aesthetically and productively. Then again, it is always advisable to explore more about the grade, type, and size of the tumour as a part of the diagnostic plan, before resorting to surgery.
When to go under the knife?
In case specialists have identified a low-grade tumour, it is advisable to only opt for surgery as the chances of complete remission increases, significantly. The modus operandi for high-grade brain lesions also start with surgery which is then supplemented with radiation and chemotherapies. Besides that, we should consider going under the knife only when the identified tumour is at a more accessible location and not near the delicate parts of the brain or spinal cord.
How a Specialist Preps up for the Surgery?
We must understand that operating the brain tumour is not just about removing the lesion but also the tissue that surrounds the same, to avoid recurrences. Moreover, to establish the best possible operative premise the cancer specialist must work in cohesion with a neurosurgeon, to initiate craniotomy with precision.
Individuals undergoing surgeries must realize that the complex process often ends with only partial tumour removal. This approach comes to the fore if and when the surgeons find it unsafe to keep operating on the more delicate regions of the brain. Partial tumour removals are still effective but it is necessary to rely on the minimally-invasive strategies for a sense of holistic well-being.
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Before preparing, we need to check whether the medical institution is equipped enough to handle the intricate process. These include availability checks for cortical mapping, imaging devices for IGS, and 5 aminolevulinic acid as the go-to fluorescent dye.
Each one of the mentioned techniques is relevant and downright necessary for facilitating better treatment. While cortical mapping allows specialists to look at the sensitive regions of the brain for gauging response, imaging devices are mostly considered for better navigation when inside the cranial cavity. Fluorescence helps surgeons understand the spread, shape, and size of the tumour, a tool that comes in handy if tumour s like glioblastomas are being encountered.
In case surgeries aren’t possible, the next invasive strategy is a tumour biopsy— a technique that sets precedence for chemo sessions and the form of the drug that is to be used.
Possible Risks
Even with the best oncologists and neurosurgeons handling our case, no tumour surgery, especially the ones concerning the brain, is safe. Some of the common risks include excessive bleeding and a severe reaction to the anesthesia. Corticosteroids are commonly administered after brain surgeries and have a separate side-effect profile to account for.
Brain function is often compromised in the long run if surgeons need to remove excessive tissue surrounding the malignant tumour. Besides that, a large number of operated individuals also experience brain seizures; something that is quite common after such an intricate surgery.
Individuals, regardless of the general health conditions, might take some time to recover from brain surgery, especially if it concerns removing a malignant tumour. However, the best way to speed up the recovery is by opting for rehabilitation therapies, which can help scale beyond speech or other impairments associated with brain function.
Considering each one of the many pointers mentioned above can give affected individuals a head-start when it comes to enduring brain surgery for complete or partial tumour removal.
