WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What do I need to know about open brain surgery with chemotherapy? Open brain surgery with chemotherapy for malignant glioma is surgery to remove a tumor from your brain. How do I prepare for surgery? Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how to prepare for surgery. He may tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your surgery. He will tell you what medicines to take or not take on the day of your surgery. What will happen during surgery? Your surgeon will place your head in a clamp to hold it in position. He will make an incision in your scalp and remove your glioma. Your surgeon will place wafer-like chemotherapy medicine in the area where your glioma was. He will close the incision with stitches or staples. A bandage may be placed over your incision. What are the risks of surgery? You may bleed more than expected or get an infection. Your blood vessels, nerves, or organs may be damaged during surgery. You may have side effects from the chemo, such as fatigue, diarrhea, or headaches. Your tumor may not be completely removed. You may get a blood clot in your limb. This may become life-threatening. |