Brain tumours

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Brain tumours at a glance

A brain tumour is an abnormal growth in or around the brain. Tumours that start in or around the brain are called primary brain tumours. Cancer that has spread there from another part of the body is called a brain metastasis, or brain metastases when there is more than one. Primary tumours include gliomas, meningiomas and several less common types. Their behaviour and treatment vary greatly. Even a non-cancerous tumour can cause serious symptoms because of its location or pressure on nearby structures.

This guide focuses on adult primary brain tumours, particularly diffuse gliomas, and explains the main differences from other brain tumours and metastases. Children need a team specialising in childhood brain tumours because their tumours and treatment priorities can be different. The most useful diagnosis combines the appearance of tumour tissue with tests for changes in its genes. This is explained in the Understand section.

Symptoms and warning signs

Symptoms depend on location and may include seizures, persistent or changing headaches, weakness, altered speech, vision changes, balance problems, memory difficulties or personality changes. Many headaches are not caused by a tumour. A new headache that keeps worsening, or a headache with symptoms such as weakness or speech changes, needs assessment. Some tumours are found by chance on a scan done for another reason.

A first seizure, a seizure lasting five minutes or more, repeated seizures without recovery, sudden weakness, severe confusion or reduced consciousness requires emergency help. Sudden severe headache, persistent vomiting with worsening drowsiness, or rapidly changing vision also needs urgent assessment. Symptoms may come from swelling, bleeding or another neurological condition and should not be self-diagnosed.

What matters first

The early priorities are controlling urgent symptoms, obtaining appropriate imaging and establishing the diagnosis safely. Steroids may reduce tumour-related swelling, and anti-seizure medicine may be needed after a seizure. These medicines help symptoms but do not identify the tumour type or replace treatment directed at the tumour. Do not start, stop or change them without instructions.

Making this information useful to you

A brain tumour diagnosis can arrive before you have had time to understand the tests. You do not need to learn every treatment name at once. Begin with the exact diagnosis, where the tumour is, and what the team recommends next. A relative or friend can join the appointment if you would find that helpful. Ask for an interpreter when language makes a discussion harder; important decisions should not depend on guessing unfamiliar words.

This guide explains possibilities, not a prescription for your situation. Your tissue-test results, scan findings, general health, previous treatment and priorities determine which possibilities apply. Two people with the same tumour type may appropriately receive different treatment. If a recommendation differs from something you have read, ask the team to explain the reason and the evidence behind it.

Keep a list of medicines, allergies and other health conditions, including non-prescription products, vitamins and herbal remedies. Tell the team about previous cancer treatment, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and anything that could affect attending appointments. Do not stop an established medicine without advice. Bring your questions in the order that matters most to you, so that the most important concern is discussed first.

Understand

Primary tumours and brain metastases

A primary brain tumour begins in the brain or its coverings. A brain metastasis is still the same type of cancer as the one it came from, such as lung or breast cancer. Medicines that travel around the body, called systemic treatment, are chosen according to that original cancer's features. A growth seen on a brain scan does not by itself tell the team whether it started there or spread from elsewhere. A biopsy (a tissue sample) or surgery may be needed to find out.

Meningiomas arise from the coverings of the brain. Many grow slowly and can be monitored, but higher-grade or symptomatic tumours may need treatment. Other types include pituitary tumours in a hormone-producing gland, vestibular schwannomas involving a nerve for hearing and balance, and primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma, a cancer of immune cells. These need different specialist treatments; a tumour inside the skull is not automatically a glioblastoma.

What the glioma name tells you

Diffuse gliomas grow among surrounding brain cells. Their diagnosis combines how the tissue looks under a microscope with molecular tests for changes in the tumour's genes and chromosomes. This combined result is called an integrated diagnosis.

There are three main adult-type diffuse gliomas. Their names include IDH, short for isocitrate dehydrogenase. IDH-mutant means a relevant change is present in the IDH1 or IDH2 gene; IDH-wildtype means it is absent.

How molecular findings affect the grade

The grade describes how a particular tumour type is expected to behave. It depends on microscopic findings and, for some tumours, molecular results. In IDH-mutant astrocytoma, CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion means loss of both copies of these genes in the tumour. This is an established grade 4 feature, even when the tissue looks less aggressive. Loss of only one copy is different.

Newer expert recommendations published in 2026 suggest using additional molecular findings to refine the grade of IDH-mutant astrocytoma. For example, PDGFRA amplification, meaning extra copies of that gene, is proposed as a grade 4 feature. Other findings may support grade 3.

These recommendations add guidance beyond the published World Health Organization (WHO) classification; they are not a new WHO edition. Your specialist can explain whether further testing or review of an older report would affect your care.

Other gliomas need a different classification

The three adult-type groups do not cover every glioma. For example, diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27-altered, usually arises in central brain or spinal-cord structures. Diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3 G34-mutant, arises in the main part of the brain. These involve changes affecting histone H3, a protein associated with DNA, and are separate diagnoses from glioblastoma.

Some groups called paediatric-type gliomas also occur in adults. Age, tumour location and the full pattern of test results matter, particularly in younger adults or when results do not fit a usual diagnosis. A specialist neuropathologist, a doctor who examines brain and nerve tissue, may use additional tests to clarify the tumour type.

Molecular tests and what they mean

Tests can answer different questions: some establish the tumour type or grade, while others help guide treatment. IDH testing may also identify a targeted treatment option for selected grade 2 gliomas. BRAF changes or gene fusions, where parts of two genes join together, can matter in particular tumours.

MGMT promoter methylation is mainly used to help estimate benefit from temozolomide chemotherapy in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma. MGMT is a gene involved in DNA repair; the test looks for chemical marks that can reduce its activity. It does not define the tumour type or grade. A methylated result does not guarantee a response, and an unmethylated result does not mean treatment can never help.

Your team should interpret all results together before choosing treatment. Most changes found in a tumour are not inherited. Ask which results are still pending and whether they could change the final diagnosis or treatment plan.

Why location matters

A small tumour near speech, movement, vision or brainstem pathways can have major effects. Surgery aims to remove as much as safely possible while protecting function. Even when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows no remaining tumour, some glioma cells may still be present among surrounding brain cells. Leaving some tumour near an area controlling an important function may be the safest operation.

Brain tumours are generally described by type, grade, location and molecular features rather than using the same stage I–IV system as many other solid cancers. A grade 4 tumour is not the same concept as stage IV metastatic cancer. Ask the team to explain the terminology used in your report.

Tests and diagnosis

Scans and diagnostic procedures

MRI is the main scan for many suspected brain tumours. A contrast agent, usually given into a vein, can make some features easier to see. Computed tomography (CT) is useful in emergencies or when MRI is unsuitable. Specialised scans may help show the tumour structure, blood supply or activity. No scan can always distinguish tumour growth from treatment effects with certainty.

The team may scan other parts of the body if the tumour could have spread from another cancer.

A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) takes a sample of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord through a needle in the lower back. It is only used in selected situations. It can be unsafe when pressure inside the skull is raised, so the team must assess this first. Tell the imaging team about implants, kidney disease, previous reactions to contrast agents and any possibility of pregnancy.

Biopsy and your pathology report

Surgery may both relieve pressure and obtain tissue. A stereotactic biopsy uses scans to guide a needle to the tumour and collect small tissue samples when a larger operation is unsafe or unnecessary. The choice depends on location, suspected diagnosis, symptoms and fitness. The tissue is reviewed by a neuropathologist and tested for the markers needed to reach an integrated diagnosis.

Ask whether the report is final or whether molecular results are still pending. Different parts of a tumour can have different features, so a small sample may not show the whole picture. A second pathology opinion is reasonable for an unusual diagnosis or when treatment depends on a particular marker. Keep the operation report, pathology and actual MRI images available for review.

Baseline function and treatment planning

An examination checks how the brain and nerves are working. Depending on the tumour location, the team may assess thinking and memory, speech, vision, hearing and hormone levels. Early assessment of movement, communication and everyday tasks helps plan practical support. Blood tests and organ-function checks help plan medicines safely.

If primary CNS lymphoma is suspected, the team will plan when to give steroids because they can make a biopsy harder to interpret. However, urgent treatment of dangerous swelling may still be necessary. This is a specialist decision; do not stop prescribed steroids because of a general statement about biopsy.

Preparing for your appointment

For your consultation or a second opinion, bring a CD containing your scan images (DICOM format) and the software needed to view them, along with the written scan reports. Bring your biopsy report and ask whether the pathology slides or tissue blocks are needed for specialist review or additional tests. Keep originals safe and agree how borrowed material will be returned. Having the actual images allows the team to compare changes and plan treatment accurately.

A repeat test is sometimes needed because an earlier sample was too small, a scan did not cover the necessary area, or a new result will change treatment. Ask what question the test will answer, how it may affect the plan, and when you should expect the result. A result described as uncertain does not automatically mean the cancer is worse. Sometimes discussion between the radiologist, pathologist and treating specialists resolves the uncertainty without another procedure.

Before a scan or procedure, mention kidney problems, previous contrast reactions, implanted devices, diabetes medicines, blood-thinning medicines and the possibility of pregnancy. Follow the testing centre's instructions about food, drink and medicines. If you have not received those instructions, contact the centre rather than making changes yourself.

Planning your treatment

How your treatment plan is chosen

Your neuro-oncology team specialises in brain and nervous-system tumours. It may include doctors who perform brain surgery, treat neurological symptoms, give radiotherapy or prescribe cancer medicines. Specialists who interpret scans and tissue samples, nurses and rehabilitation professionals also help plan your care.

Together, they consider the exact diagnosis, tumour growth, symptoms, how much can safely be removed, your age, health and personal priorities. The right balance may be immediate treatment, observation after surgery, or a combination of approaches.

Ask which functions are at risk from the tumour and from treatment, and whether brain mapping or monitoring could help protect functions such as speech and movement. In selected operations, you may be awake for part of the procedure so the team can check these functions while removing the tumour. Ask what further treatment is likely even if the operation goes well. A plan should include rehabilitation and symptom care rather than treating them as optional extras.

Understanding benefits and limitations

Some tumours can be cured or controlled for many years, while others are difficult to remove or control completely and often come back (recur). Survival statistics describe groups and may not reflect a person's molecular subtype or current treatment options. Ask for an explanation that fits your diagnosis and how much uncertainty remains.

It is reasonable to discuss how treatment may affect independence, memory, communication and time at home. A less intensive treatment plan can be appropriate when standard treatment would be too difficult to tolerate. Supportive care can accompany active treatment throughout, including when the goal is prolonged control rather than cure.

Questions specific to brain tumours

Ask for the full integrated diagnosis and whether IDH, 1p/19q and MGMT results are relevant. Ask whether treatment is needed now or whether monitoring is safe, and what changes would mean treatment should start. Before leaving hospital, discuss seizure safety, driving, work, any plan to reduce steroids gradually, and who to contact urgently for new symptoms.

Questions to ask your care team

• What is the exact tumour type and grade, and are any important results still pending?
• Is the aim to cure the cancer, reduce the chance of recurrence, control it, or relieve a particular symptom?
• What benefit do you expect from this option, and what are the reasonable alternatives for me?
• How will treatment affect everyday activities, fertility, sexual health and the things I most value?
• How will we know whether it is working, and when will we review the plan?
• Who should I contact between visits, including at night or over a weekend?

Clinical trials and newer treatments

A clinical trial can be worth considering at diagnosis or when treatment needs to change. Trials ask a defined question; some compare established treatments and others study a newer approach. Eligibility depends on the cancer, previous treatment, test results and health. Taking part is voluntary, and choosing not to participate does not remove your right to standard care. Ask about extra visits, whether treatment is allocated by chance (randomisation), costs, travel, side effects and what happens when the study ends.

Newer treatments are considered using the clinical evidence, recognised guidelines and the exact cancer type, biomarkers and previous treatment. Some options have less evidence or shorter follow-up than established treatments. Ask what is known, what remains uncertain and whether a clinical trial would be appropriate.

Your priorities and supportive care

Tell the team what you are hoping treatment will make possible: returning to work, caring for family, keeping independence, reducing pain or attending an important event. These priorities can influence a choice between reasonable options. If the likely benefit is small and the burden is substantial, discussing a less intensive approach is appropriate. Decisions can be revisited when your health or circumstances change.

Supportive and palliative care help with symptoms, sleep, mood, family concerns and planning. They can be provided alongside treatment intended to cure or control cancer. A referral does not mean that active treatment is ending. If the cancer cannot be cured, ask what treatments may help you live longer or more comfortably and how their burdens compare with their likely benefits.

Treatment options

Matching treatment to your diagnosis

Your exact tumour type and grade help identify which options below apply to you. The team also considers symptoms, scan changes, how much tumour remains after surgery, your general health and your preferences.

A molecular finding that suggests more aggressive behaviour does not necessarily identify an effective targeted medicine. If newer molecular tests change the assessment of your tumour, your specialist should explain how that affects the treatment plan and what evidence supports the recommendation.

Surgery and observation

For many gliomas, the first step is to remove as much tumour as possible while protecting brain function. This is called maximal safe resection. An MRI after surgery shows how much tumour remains and provides a starting point for comparing later scans. A biopsy alone may be appropriate when removing the tumour would be unsafe or unlikely to help enough.

Monitoring with regular MRI can be appropriate after surgery for selected lower-risk tumours or for some meningiomas found by chance. The decision depends on the diagnosis, any remaining tumour, symptoms and growth. It is not suitable for every tumour described as low grade. A growing or symptomatic tumour may need treatment even if it is not high grade.

IDH-mutant grade 2 glioma

Options after surgery include careful observation, radiotherapy with chemotherapy, or vorasidenib for appropriately selected IDH-mutant astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma. The decision depends on symptoms, how much tumour remains, whether it is growing, other risk features and whether radiotherapy and chemotherapy can safely wait. If the tumour needs urgent treatment, delaying these treatments may be unsuitable.

Vorasidenib is an option for selected patients aged at least 12 with IDH-mutant grade 2 astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma after surgery, including biopsy. It is particularly relevant when radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be deferred; imaging features and the complete treatment history help determine suitability. Liver monitoring is important. It is not a treatment for every glioma or a replacement for radiotherapy when that is clearly needed.

Oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted

This diagnosis requires both an IDH1 or IDH2 mutation and loss of the whole 1p and 19q chromosome arms (1p/19q co-deletion).

For grade 2 tumours needing further treatment, and usually for grade 3 tumours, radiotherapy with PCV chemotherapy is an established approach. PCV combines procarbazine, lomustine and vincristine; it is commonly given after radiotherapy.

Temozolomide may be an alternative when PCV is unsuitable, including concerns about side effects. The evidence supporting the two regimens is different, so your team can explain why one is recommended. Selected grade 2 tumours may instead be monitored or treated with vorasidenib as described above.

Astrocytoma, IDH-mutant

• Grade 2: selected patients can have monitoring or vorasidenib after surgery. When radiotherapy and chemotherapy are needed, chemotherapy may be temozolomide or PCV. The choice depends on tumour features, symptoms and how well you are likely to tolerate treatment.
• Grade 3: radiotherapy followed by temozolomide is an established approach. Chemotherapy after radiotherapy is called adjuvant treatment and is often planned for 12 treatment cycles (courses), with adjustments when needed. The benefit of also giving temozolomide during radiotherapy has not been established for this group.
• Grade 4: surgery when feasible, followed by radiotherapy and temozolomide, is commonly used. Temozolomide may be given after radiotherapy, or both during and after it. Evidence for the best schedule in this specific tumour type is less certain, so the specialist team individualises the plan. The diagnosis remains IDH-mutant astrocytoma.

Glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype

For suitable patients, treatment commonly includes maximal safe surgery followed by radiotherapy with temozolomide and then additional temozolomide. MGMT status helps discuss the expected chemotherapy benefit. For older adults or people who may struggle with intensive treatment, options include a shorter radiotherapy course, temozolomide alone in selected circumstances, a shorter combined course, or supportive care. The choice depends on overall health and tumour features.

Tumour treating fields use a wearable device to deliver alternating electric fields that disrupt cancer-cell division. They may be considered alongside ongoing treatment after the initial chemoradiotherapy course for selected patients where available. Wearing the device requires many hours each day, regular scalp care and consideration of cost and practical needs. It is an option to discuss, not a requirement for every patient or a guaranteed way to prevent recurrence.

Diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27-altered

This tumour needs specialist planning. Its central location can limit surgery, and radiotherapy is often the main treatment used to control it.

Dordaviprone is an option for patients aged one year or older with H3 K27M-mutated diffuse midline glioma progressing after prior therapy. The H3 K27M mutation must be confirmed: this treatment does not apply to every H3 K27-altered tumour or to H3 G34-mutant glioma. Your team will discuss the expected benefit, monitoring and possible side effects.

Diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3 G34-mutant

This is a separate tumour type that needs specialist neuro-oncology care. Treatment commonly includes removal of as much tumour as is safe, followed by radiotherapy and temozolomide. Because this tumour is rare, much of the treatment approach is drawn from experience with other high-grade gliomas. A suitable clinical trial may be discussed.

Other molecularly matched treatments

Some tumours with a BRAF gene change or a gene fusion have a treatment that targets that specific change. Eligibility depends on the exact tumour, age group and previous treatment. Testing the tumour for gene changes, called molecular profiling, may therefore be useful in selected cases or if the tumour returns. Evidence from children does not automatically apply to adults.

Recurrence and uncertain scans

An MRI change after treatment can mean tumour growth, inflammation or radiation injury. Sometimes treatment-related changes temporarily look like growth; this is called pseudoprogression. Timing, symptoms, steroid use and specialist imaging interpretation matter. Sometimes repeat imaging, advanced imaging or another operation is needed. A single uncertain report should not automatically lead to abandoning a treatment that may be helping.

For recurrent glioma, options can include further surgery, another course of radiotherapy in selected situations, chemotherapy or a clinical trial. Bevacizumab may help swelling and symptoms in selected patients whose glioblastoma has returned. It has not been shown to cure the tumour or reliably help patients live longer. Molecularly matched options may apply to rare subgroups. The choice depends on previous treatment, how long it worked, where the tumour is and how it affects you.

Meningioma and other primary tumours

A small meningioma that is not causing symptoms may be monitored with MRI. Growing, symptomatic or higher-risk tumours may need surgery, radiotherapy or both. The extent of removal, grade and location guide follow-up. Non-cancerous does not mean harmless when the tumour affects vision, nerves or other vital structures.

Pituitary tumours need hormone assessment and may be treated with medicines, surgery or radiotherapy according to type. Primary CNS lymphoma usually needs medicines chosen for lymphoma rather than extensive surgical removal. Ependymoma and other uncommon tumours have their own treatment plans. Ask for a separate diagnosis-specific discussion if your tumour is outside the diffuse glioma groups described here.

Brain metastases

Treatment depends on the original cancer, symptoms, the number and size of tumours in the brain, molecular findings and cancer elsewhere in the body. Surgery may help when a large tumour is causing symptoms or the diagnosis is uncertain.

Stereotactic radiotherapy directs radiation precisely at selected tumours. Whole-brain radiotherapy treats a wider area and is used in other situations. If whole-brain treatment is appropriate, ask about ways to reduce its effects on memory and thinking.

Some targeted medicines or immunotherapies can also work against cancer in the brain, particularly in certain types of lung or breast cancer. Tumours causing symptoms often still need prompt surgery or radiotherapy. Your specialists should decide whether radiotherapy can safely wait; this depends on more than whether a medicine reaches the brain.

Managing side effects

Seizures and safety

Take anti-seizure medicine as prescribed. Ask what to do if you miss a dose or have a seizure despite taking it. Not every person with a brain tumour needs preventive anti-seizure treatment if they have never had a seizure. Your team will decide whether it is needed, including around surgery. Do not drive until the medical and applicable licensing requirements have been clarified.

During a seizure with shaking or jerking:

• Protect the person from injury and note when the seizure starts.
• Do not hold them down or put anything in their mouth.
• Follow their prescribed emergency treatment plan if you have been trained to do so.

Get emergency help for a first seizure, a seizure lasting five minutes or more, repeated seizures without recovery, injury or breathing difficulty. Follow any earlier emergency threshold in the person's care plan. Ask your team about safety around swimming, bathing, heights and machinery.

Steroids and swelling

Dexamethasone is a steroid that can reduce swelling and improve symptoms. It can also cause difficulty sleeping, mood changes, muscle weakness, high blood sugar and a greater risk of infection.

Your team will prescribe the lowest dose that controls symptoms and explain when to reduce it gradually (tapering). Stopping suddenly after regular use can be unsafe. If symptoms worsen as the dose is reduced, contact the team for advice rather than changing it yourself.

If prolonged steroids or certain chemotherapy regimens increase infection risk, preventive medicines may be prescribed. Take them as instructed and ask which symptoms require urgent review. Steroid-related weakness and mood effects can be mistaken for cancer progression, so clinical assessment is important.

Thinking, movement and communication

Tumour effects, surgery, seizures, medicines and fatigue can all affect memory, concentration, speech or behaviour. Specialists in memory and thinking, everyday activities, movement and speech can help you find practical ways to manage. A caregiver's observations can be helpful, with your permission. Changes in behaviour may be an effect of the illness or treatment rather than something the person can control.

Radiotherapy can cause fatigue and temporary hair loss in the treated area, with possible longer-term effects on memory, thinking or hormone levels, depending on the area treated. Chemotherapy needs blood-count monitoring and can cause nausea or infection risk. Report symptoms early so support or treatment adjustments can be considered.

Keeping treatment manageable

Keep the team's contact details available and know where to go outside clinic hours. Report side effects early rather than waiting until the next appointment. A short record of symptoms, temperature, fluid intake and medicines can help the team decide what is needed. Do not change cancer medicine doses, restart a stopped treatment, or use leftover antibiotics without instructions. A planned delay or dose adjustment can be an important part of safe treatment.

If you receive treatment that can lower white blood cells, a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher needs urgent advice. Follow any lower threshold or additional instructions your team gives you. Chills, sudden weakness, confusion or feeling very unwell also need urgent assessment, even without a fever. Do not wait for a blood test appointment or try to hide the fever with medicine before speaking to the team.

Severe breathlessness, chest pain, a new seizure, sudden weakness, heavy bleeding or collapse require emergency care. New severe back pain with leg weakness, numbness around the bottom, or loss of bladder or bowel control also needs immediate assessment. Contact the nearest emergency service when necessary; a website contact form or routine messaging service is not an emergency pathway.

Eating, drinking and energy

Treatment may change appetite, taste, bowel habits and energy. Small, frequent meals and foods containing protein can be easier than large meals. Ask for dietitian support if weight is falling, swallowing is difficult, or you are avoiding many foods. There is no single diet that treats cancer, and severe restriction or prolonged fasting can make it harder to tolerate treatment. Check supplements with your team because some interact with medicines.

Take anti-sickness medicine as prescribed and report vomiting that prevents you keeping down fluids or essential medicines. Seek advice for persistent diarrhoea, dizziness, very little urine or increasing weakness. Fluid recommendations may need adjustment if you have heart or kidney disease. Mouth ulcers, pain or infection that interferes with eating should be treated promptly rather than accepted as unavoidable.

Gentle movement, short walks and planned rest may help fatigue, but activity should match your condition and any surgical or bone-safety restrictions. Fatigue can also reflect anaemia, infection, hormone changes, pain, poor sleep or low mood. Let the team assess a marked or persistent change. Accepting help with shopping, transport or meals can conserve energy for the activities that matter to you.

Live well

Follow-up after treatment

The timing of follow-up MRI scans depends on the tumour type, grade, treatment and symptoms. Bring earlier images for comparison, especially when changing centres. Ask which scan will be used as the starting point for future comparisons and what happens if a result is uncertain. Report new symptoms such as weakness, speech changes or seizures between visits; do not wait for the next scheduled scan.

Long-term care may include seizure control, hormone replacement, rehabilitation, help with memory and thinking, and support with work or caregiving. Ask when it is safe to return to driving and other activities. Planning for help with finances, transport or medical decisions can preserve independence and reduce stress when concentration or communication is affected. Support for caregivers is an important part of neuro-oncology care.

Emotional and practical support

Feeling frightened, angry, sad or uncertain is understandable. You do not have to appear positive all the time. Ask about counselling, psychological support, support groups or a social worker if worry is affecting sleep, relationships or daily life. Persistent depression, panic or thoughts of self-harm need prompt professional help. Caregivers may need their own support and breaks; one person should not have to manage every appointment and household task alone.

It can help to agree who will update relatives and how much information you want shared. Children usually benefit from honest, age-appropriate explanations and reassurance about who will care for them. Ask permission before discussing private medical information with others. If concentration or memory is difficult, use reminders, a calendar and a trusted companion at important consultations.

Relationships, fertility and sexual health

Cancer and treatment can affect desire, comfort, fertility, body image and confidence. These are valid medical concerns. Raise fertility questions before treatment when possible, because some protective options need to be arranged early. The right approach depends on age, the treatment and how urgently it must start. Do not assume that absent periods or reduced fertility means pregnancy is impossible. Ask about contraception and the safe timing of pregnancy for your specific medicines.

Explain any pain, dryness, erection difficulties or changes in intimacy to the team. Appropriate treatments, rehabilitation and counselling can help. You can choose how much to involve a partner. Advice about hormone-containing treatments needs to take the cancer type and treatment into account; do not start them without discussing suitability.

Planning ahead while living well

Ask for a clear follow-up plan and know which symptoms should be reported between visits. Continue care for other conditions and discuss vaccinations with your oncology team; the timing and suitability of live vaccines can change during treatment. Avoid tobacco and ask for practical cessation support if needed. Activity, food and sleep plans should be realistic for your health rather than another source of pressure.

If treatment is long term, arrange periodic discussions about what is helping, what is difficult and what you want next. Planning for future care can protect your preferences and reduce uncertainty for family. You can discuss who should help with decisions if you become too unwell to speak for yourself, while continuing treatment and everyday life now.

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Meet our doctors

Dr (Prof) Vijay Agarwal

Professor and Lead Consultant – Medical Oncology

Dr Prathyush V

Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology & Haemato-Oncology

Dr Darshan R S

Consultant – Medical Oncology & Haemato-Oncology

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Apollo Hospitals
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Apollo Hospitals
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