What is a brain tumour?
A brain tumour is a growth of abnormal cells in the brain, which can cause serious health problems, particularly if they continue to grow and put pressure on the brain. In order to diagnose a brain tumour, your doctor may perform one of the following tests:
How can brain tumours be treated?
Brain tumours can generally be removed surgically. Brain tumour surgery may need to be followed by radiation and chemotherapy in order to remove any infected tissue that remains.
Craniotomy
The most common therapy for brain tumours is surgery. A neurosurgeon cuts a hole in the skull to remove a brain tumour. A craniotomy is a name for this procedure. The surgeon tries to remove the entire tumour whenever possible. Your doctor may remove as much of the tumour as feasible if it cannot be entirely removed without causing damage to vital brain tissue. Partial removal relieves symptoms by relieving pressure on the brain and minimising the amount of tumour that needs to be treated with radiation or chemotherapy.
FAQ:
Surgery could take between three and seven hours.
It can take between four and eight weeks to recover from brain surgery.
General anaesthesia is typically used.
I am a qualified neurosurgeon following my pre- and postgraduate studies at the University of Stellenbosch and currently have private practices at Netcare N1 City, which caters for the northern suburbs of Cape Town and Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital, which caters for the west coast of Cape Town and Western Cape.
Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital
Tel: +27 (0)21 554 0779 / Fax: +27 (0)21 554 2144
Email: bbhinfo@capeneurospine.co.za
Netcare N1 City Hospital
Tel: 021 595 4633 / Fax: 021-595 3446
Email: info@capeneurospine.co.za