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| What
You Need to Know about Brain Tumors |
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Living with Brain Tumor
The diagnosis of a brain tumor can change the
lives of patients and the people who care about them. These changes can
be hard to handle. Patients and their families and friends may have many
different and sometimes confusing emotions.
At times, patients and those close to them may
feel frightened, angry, or depressed. These are normal reactions when
people face a serious health problem. Most patients, including children
and teenagers, find it helps to share their thoughts and feelings with
loved ones. Sharing can help everyone feel more at ease and can open the
way for others to show their concern and offer their support.
Worries about tests, treatments, hospital stays,
rehabilitation, and medical bills are common. Parents may worry about
whether their children will be able to take part in normal school or
social activities. Doctors, nurses, social workers, and other members of
the health care team may be able to calm fears and ease confusion. They
can also provide information and suggest helpful resources.
Patients and their families are naturally
concerned about what the future holds. Sometimes they use statistics to
try to figure out whether the patient will be cured or how long he or
she will live. It is important to remember, however, that statistics are
averages based on large numbers of patients. They cannot be used to
predict what will happen to a certain patient because no two cancer
patients are alike. The doctor who takes care of the patient and knows
that person's medical history is in the best position to discuss the
patient's outlook (prognosis).
People should feel free to ask the doctor about
their prognosis, but it is important to keep in mind that not even the
doctor can tell exactly what will happen. When doctors talk about
recovering from a brain tumor, they may use the term remission
rather than cure. Even though many people recover completely, doctors
use this term because a brain tumor can recur.
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