How Your GP Can Help After A Brain Tumour Diagnosis

How Can Your GP Help After A Brain Tumour Diagnosis?

When you are diagnosed with a brain tumour or recovering from emergency brain surgery, it can feel as though everyone expects you to know what happens next.

You may leave hospital with medication, follow-up appointments to wait for, and a head full of questions.

Who do you contact if you’re worried?

When should you call your GP?

Should you speak to your neurosurgeon, neurologist, epilepsy team, or someone else entirely?

These are questions many people affected by brain tumours ask.

Watch Dr Victoria McBride and Claire Bullimore talk in full in the Aunty M Brain Tumours Talk Show interview below, or keep reading for the written version

Leaving Hospital Can Feel Overwhelming

One of the biggest challenges many brain tumour patients face is understanding who is responsible for different aspects of their care.

After surgery or treatment, you may be discharged with medication and instructions, but little understanding of what happens next.

Dr McBride explained that GPs are often in exactly the same position.

Sometimes patients arrive at their GP appointment before the hospital has even sent a discharge summary.

This means your GP may know very little about your hospital stay initially, but that does not mean they cannot help.

Instead, they can:

Request discharge letters from the hospital
Contact specialist teams for information
Clarify medication plans
Arrange monitoring and prescriptions
Help coordinate future care

As Dr McBride explained, your GP often becomes your advocate when communication between services is delayed.

Who Should You Contact?

A common frustration for patients is knowing which professional to approach.

Different members of your healthcare team have different roles.

Neurosurgeon

Your neurosurgeon specialises in performing brain surgery and managing surgical recovery.

Oncologist

An oncologist oversees treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Neurologist

A neurologist manages neurological symptoms, including epilepsy, seizures and brain function.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

Your Clinical Nurse Specialist often becomes your most valuable point of contact.

They can:

Explain your diagnosis
Help coordinate appointments
Attend MDT meetings
Chase scan results
Liaise with specialists on your behalf

Dr McBride recommends asking about a Clinical Nurse Specialist if you have not already been assigned one.

Why Charities Matter

While medical teams focus on scans, medications and treatment plans, patients are often worried about very different questions:

Can I drive?
Can I return to work?
What financial support is available?
How do I cope emotionally?
How can I speak to someone who understands?

This is where charities can make a huge difference.

Dr McBride highlighted organisations, including:

These organisations can provide practical advice, emotional support, counselling information, benefits guidance and peer support.

As many people in the brain tumour community know, Brainstrust is particularly helpful at acting as a central hub and helping people find local support services.

The Emotional Impact Doesn’t End After Treatment

Many people assume that once surgery or treatment is finished, life returns to normal.

In reality, recovery often continues for years.

Patients may experience:

Anxiety
Cognitive difficulties
Fatigue
Confidence issues
Memory problems
Changes in relationships
Difficulties returning to work

Dr McBride emphasised that these concerns are completely valid and should not be ignored.

Your GP can help signpost counselling services and support organisations.

However, specialist brain tumour charities often provide more tailored emotional support than generic counselling services.

How To Get The Most Out Of A 10-Minute GP Appointment

One of the most useful parts of our discussion was Dr McBride’s practical advice.

1. Write Down Your Questions

Before your appointment, make a list.

Some examples might include:

Can I drive?
When can I return to work?
Who do I contact about benefits?
Can I go on holiday?
Where can I find counselling?
Why am I experiencing this symptom?

A written list helps ensure nothing important gets forgotten.

2. Ask For A Longer Appointment

Many people don’t realise they can request a longer appointment when discussing complex medical issues.

This can reduce pressure and give you more time to discuss your concerns properly.

3. Bring Someone With You

A family member, friend or carer can:

Help remember information
Take notes
Ask questions you may forget
Provide emotional support

Sometimes the person accompanying you notices difficulties that you may not have mentioned yourself.

4. Ask About Recording The Appointment

Some healthcare professionals are happy for patients to record consultations.

Always ask permission first.

For people experiencing memory, visual or cognitive difficulties, recordings can be invaluable when reviewing information later.

5. Keep Your Own Medical Notes

Maintaining a simple notebook of appointments, questions, symptoms and advice can help you feel more organised and in control.

Support For Parents And Carers

A brain tumour diagnosis affects entire families.

Parents caring for children with brain tumours, partners supporting loved ones, and family carers often need support themselves.

Dr McBride encourages carers to speak with their GP if they are struggling emotionally.

Support may be available through:

Looking after your own wellbeing is not selfish. It is essential.

Key Takeaway

Perhaps the most important message from this conversation is that your GP does not need to have every answer.

Instead, they can help guide you towards the right person, organisation or service.

Whether you need support with medication, work, counselling, benefits, transport, rehabilitation or practical adjustments, your GP can often help you find the next step.

You do not need to navigate life after a brain tumour alone.

If you have been affected by a brain tumour and would like to share your story, you can also explore the patient stories and podcast interviews available on Aunty M Brain Tumours.