What to expect after brain surgery: Patients and a neurosurgeon share insights
Are some side effects common to everyone after brain surgery? For instance, can you expect to experience some combination of memory lapses, balance problems, personality changes and/or trouble with your speech?
We went to neurosurgeon Sherise Ferguson, M.D., and four patients who’ve had brain surgery for answers. Here’s what they shared with us.
Expect your side effects to be uniqueThe first thing to know...
Glioblastoma caregiver: Why I support neuroscience research at MD Anderson
When my late husband, James Broach, was diagnosed with a type of brain tumor called astrocytoma in 2010, it came as a huge shock. He was only...
Can brain tumors cause personality changes?
A brain tumor diagnosis is life-changing. Symptoms can appear suddenly, affecting both your physical and mental health.
Your brain...
Glioblastoma survivor: ‘You can live with cancer and still have a really good life’
Focal seizures are not what you might typically imagine when you first hear the word “seizure.” They’re not the kind that makes you suddenly fall to the floor and start writhing around. These just make you space out for a few minutes, or maybe smell chocolate strongly for a second, or yawn 15 times in a row really quickly.
I was having brain fog and at least a handful of those seizures every day by January 2024. I just didn...
Astrocytoma survivor gives back to MD Anderson
Jim Bartlett, now 57, was a self-described workaholic before his brain tumor diagnosis in 2022.
“I’ve been practicing for almost...
Plumbing the depths of the brain: How a neurosurgeon approaches brain cancer treatment
Neurosurgeon Christopher Young, M.D., Ph.D., has always been interested in exploring new frontiers in medicine. With dreams of specializing...
Head shaving and brain surgery: 4 things to know
If you’ve been diagnosed with a brain tumor and told you need surgery, you might have some concerns. Does this mean your entire head will...
Awake craniotomy for brain tumors: 8 questions
Imagine being able to talk to your doctors during brain tumor surgery without pain and give them immediate feedback while they operate...
Music to a mother’s ears: Awake craniotomies bring musicians together
Witnessing her adult son, Adrian, suffer a severe seizure at their home in the Rio Grande Valley during the spring of 2022 was nerve-wracking...
Craniotomy vs. craniectomy: What’s the difference?
A craniotomy and a craniectomy are surgical procedures used to treat conditions in the brain. They are both performed by neurosurgeons.