Frequently Asked Questions
Please feel free to ask us any question at any time. As brain tumor specialists, we have helped people and
their families answer a wide range of questions that come up naturally after the diagnosis. While early
detection and treatment of a brain tumor ensures the best chances of successfully dealing with it, we have
had success with tumors at every stage. We believe that by sharing what we have learned, we can make it
easier to cope with the unknown and improve not only outlooks, but also outcomes.
Will I be OK?
Think positive. The majority of tumors are benign. Every story is a unique one in many, many ways. Ask your treatment team for details on your particular type of tumor, since your prognosis depends on that and also on your unique profile. Remember, specialists who take the time to understand you and who are accustomed to dealing with your type of tumor are more apt to ensure the best possible outcome.
Will life ever return to normal?
Preserving your body’s normal functions is a specialty at Roosevelt. What helps make that possible is a
unique brain-mapping technique that lets our team link specific regions of the brain to specific behaviors and
abilities, such as speaking or sensation. By mapping key functions before surgery, our team has the most
technologically advanced guidance during surgery to isolate the problem areas and minimize unintended
damage. It’s our way of doing whatever is possible to improve the chances that life will return to normal after
the operation.
What do I tell friends and family?
Let your family, friends and loved ones know that we want to see them, too. They have a role to play in our process of making your experience as nurturing as possible. Not just as technologically advanced as possible. Family members are often part of the decision—and almost always part of the solution. Tell them that their questions and concerns are welcome. No need to feel you’re totally alone. Because you’re not. Your team includes your family and our extended one, including patients who have experienced tumors like yours.
What should I ask my surgeon?
Your treatment may involve surgery. If so, be sure to ask as many questions as possible of your surgeon.
• Is he or she a specialist?
• Is he a part of a team of interdisciplinary specialists you can meet?
• What is the surgeon’s experience with your type of tumor?
• How many surgeries has he or she done in the past year?
• What makes his approach to surgery unique?
• Can he make you feel comfortable with the process?
• Can he refer you to another patient to talk with before you decide?
• Does he understand what is most important for you to be able to do after you leave the hospital?
You may even ask him whom you should see for a second opinion––after all, this is about you, not him. And it is why at Roosevelt, we encourage you to think of your surgeon not only as a specialist, but also as your coach. A coach will help you find ways to help yourself, so you can return as quickly as possible to the things you want to do with your life.
How do I know a treatment is right for me?
No two treatments are exactly alike. To determine the best approach for you, our team meets to discuss your
particular situation. We review your medical history, your films, compare notes with your referring physician,
and develop treatment options unique to your challenges. These options are based on our experience as an
interdisciplinary team of top specialists in neurosurgery, neuro-oncology and radiation oncology. The result
is in an integrated treatment plan designed to attack the problem from many angles that all work together to
speed your recovery and help you resume life again on your own terms.
How common is my condition?
For quick statistics, visit the National Cancer Institute site and download the brain tumor fact sheet at
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/brain-tumor-study. But please remember that statistics could
give you false comfort. Or, they could cause undue concern. Which statistics really count? Since the details
of your particular situation are really what matter, your treatment team is your best source of information.
Your treatment team knows how best to weigh your personal medical history and risks, with the known
advantages and efficacies of various treatments options, including promising new advances.
What should I expect from my doctors?
A lot, is the answer. Especially if it is Roosevelt. Here, you will find a team of top, interdisciplinary brain
treatment specialists who combine the best in technology and modern medicine with the most personal
attention possible. So, you can expect us to be there for you in every way. From the time you contact us to
the day you leave our care, we promise to do everything in our power to understand your concerns and to
help you regain a sense of control over the outcome.
How long will I be in the hospital?
At Roosevelt, it is not uncommon for brain treatment patients to be sitting up in bed and eating a meal within
hours of surgery. It all depends on the nature of your treatment––and your progress. Once out of the
intensive care unit, your team monitors your recovery. Of course, recovery times vary. But rest assured that
the team alone decides when it’s prudent to leave the hospital, which ranges typically from two days to
longer, depending.
What happens after I leave the hospital?
After surgery, your team assesses your results and modifies your original treatment plan, accordingly. Before you leave the hospital, you will learn what your specific Aftercare program entails. For the most part, expect regimens involving special medications and radiation, possibly even chemotherapy. This program typically begins within a week or two of your being discharged. When you start your Aftercare program, you likely will visit your team daily at first, for a few weeks, then less frequently after that. Thanks to advances, you may find that you can ease back into work and resume other interests at least partially while in Aftercare.
Is there someone I can talk to who has been through this?
Patients make some of the best counselors. Their stories, their grit, their ups and their downs inspire us all.
Through our long history of treating brain tumors, we are able to put you in touch with some of our former
patients who have resumed normal life—and others now who are going through the process of combating
brain tumors. There are also a number of web sites that you might find helpful. Please visit the American
Brain Tumor Association’s web site for stories of hope at www.abta.org
Please feel free to ask us any question at any time. As brain tumor specialists, we have helped people and
their families answer a wide range of questions that come up naturally after the diagnosis. While early
detection and treatment of a brain tumor ensures the best chances of successfully dealing with it, we have
had success with tumors at every stage. We believe that by sharing what we have learned, we can make it
easier to cope with the unknown and improve not only outlooks, but also outcomes.
Will I be OK?
Think positive. The majority of tumors are benign. Every story is a unique one in many, many ways. Ask your treatment team for details on your particular type of tumor, since your prognosis depends on that and also on your unique profile. Remember, specialists who take the time to understand you and who are accustomed to dealing with your type of tumor are more apt to ensure the best possible outcome.
Will life ever return to normal?
Preserving your body’s normal functions is a specialty at Roosevelt. What helps make that possible is a
unique brain-mapping technique that lets our team link specific regions of the brain to specific behaviors and
abilities, such as speaking or sensation. By mapping key functions before surgery, our team has the most
technologically advanced guidance during surgery to isolate the problem areas and minimize unintended
damage. It’s our way of doing whatever is possible to improve the chances that life will return to normal after
the operation.
What do I tell friends and family?
Let your family, friends and loved ones know that we want to see them, too. They have a role to play in our process of making your experience as nurturing as possible. Not just as technologically advanced as possible. Family members are often part of the decision—and almost always part of the solution. Tell them that their questions and concerns are welcome. No need to feel you’re totally alone. Because you’re not. Your team includes your family and our extended one, including patients who have experienced tumors like yours.
What should I ask my surgeon?
Your treatment may involve surgery. If so, be sure to ask as many questions as possible of your surgeon.
• Is he or she a specialist?
• Is he a part of a team of interdisciplinary specialists you can meet?
• What is the surgeon’s experience with your type of tumor?
• How many surgeries has he or she done in the past year?
• What makes his approach to surgery unique?
• Can he make you feel comfortable with the process?
• Can he refer you to another patient to talk with before you decide?
• Does he understand what is most important for you to be able to do after you leave the hospital?
You may even ask him whom you should see for a second opinion––after all, this is about you, not him. And it is why at Roosevelt, we encourage you to think of your surgeon not only as a specialist, but also as your coach. A coach will help you find ways to help yourself, so you can return as quickly as possible to the things you want to do with your life.
How do I know a treatment is right for me?
No two treatments are exactly alike. To determine the best approach for you, our team meets to discuss your
particular situation. We review your medical history, your films, compare notes with your referring physician,
and develop treatment options unique to your challenges. These options are based on our experience as an
interdisciplinary team of top specialists in neurosurgery, neuro-oncology and radiation oncology. The result
is in an integrated treatment plan designed to attack the problem from many angles that all work together to
speed your recovery and help you resume life again on your own terms.
How common is my condition?
For quick statistics, visit the National Cancer Institute site and download the brain tumor fact sheet at
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/brain-tumor-study. But please remember that statistics could
give you false comfort. Or, they could cause undue concern. Which statistics really count? Since the details
of your particular situation are really what matter, your treatment team is your best source of information.
Your treatment team knows how best to weigh your personal medical history and risks, with the known
advantages and efficacies of various treatments options, including promising new advances.
What should I expect from my doctors?
A lot, is the answer. Especially if it is Roosevelt. Here, you will find a team of top, interdisciplinary brain
treatment specialists who combine the best in technology and modern medicine with the most personal
attention possible. So, you can expect us to be there for you in every way. From the time you contact us to
the day you leave our care, we promise to do everything in our power to understand your concerns and to
help you regain a sense of control over the outcome.
How long will I be in the hospital?
At Roosevelt, it is not uncommon for brain treatment patients to be sitting up in bed and eating a meal within
hours of surgery. It all depends on the nature of your treatment––and your progress. Once out of the
intensive care unit, your team monitors your recovery. Of course, recovery times vary. But rest assured that
the team alone decides when it’s prudent to leave the hospital, which ranges typically from two days to
longer, depending.
What happens after I leave the hospital?
After surgery, your team assesses your results and modifies your original treatment plan, accordingly. Before you leave the hospital, you will learn what your specific Aftercare program entails. For the most part, expect regimens involving special medications and radiation, possibly even chemotherapy. This program typically begins within a week or two of your being discharged. When you start your Aftercare program, you likely will visit your team daily at first, for a few weeks, then less frequently after that. Thanks to advances, you may find that you can ease back into work and resume other interests at least partially while in Aftercare.
Is there someone I can talk to who has been through this?
Patients make some of the best counselors. Their stories, their grit, their ups and their downs inspire us all.
Through our long history of treating brain tumors, we are able to put you in touch with some of our former
patients who have resumed normal life—and others now who are going through the process of combating
brain tumors. There are also a number of web sites that you might find helpful. Please visit the American
Brain Tumor Association’s web site for stories of hope at www.abta.org