Researchers took the decision against recommending advanced MRI scanning techniques for people with meningioma. These techniques are rarely in use currently in this group. However, there was no evidence to support a change in practice. In most cases, standard structural MRI is in use to make a diagnosis with a high degree of confidence and trust. The committee was aware that MR spectroscopy might occasionally be helpful to distinguish meningioma from other types of tumor. It is recognised that if the recommendations meant that follow-up scans had to be undertaken during the weekend, this would incur additional costs. The committee, therefore, decided to use ranges of time for scanning that were at least three days long to ensure that weekend scanning could be minimised.
The committee also discussed that people with physical disabilities might find it challenging to attend very frequent scanning. Therefore, one should consider alternative assessment modalities for these people. They did not make a specific recommendation on this point as the types of physical disability experienced by people with brain tumours were very variable and is not refer specifically to disability. The committee believe that the medical practitioners should offer all people with tumours with appropriate follow-up; regardless of the presence of a disability.
When active treatment for meningioma is complete, the patient’s care does not terminate. Your health care team will continue to examine your overall health and check to see if the tumor has returned. In other words, follow-up care.
Regular physical examinations, medical testing, or both may be part of your follow-up care.
Medical practitioners want to monitor your progress in the following months and years. People who have had a benign meningioma treated often have yearly follow-up appointments with a neurosurgeon or neuro-oncologist. Ones with more aggressive tumors may require more frequent visits and continuous medical care following surgery. People treated for either type of meningioma will often need regular. Repeated MRI or CT scans of the brain as part of their follow-up care.
Doctors may recommend rehabilitation, including physical therapy, vocational counselling, pain management, nutritional planning, and emotional counselling. The purpose of rehabilitation is to assist people in regaining control of many parts of their lives; while remaining as autonomous and productive as possible. Learn and understand more about rehabilitation.
One of the primary purposes of follow-up care is to look for recurrence, or the tumor has returned. Meningioma recurs because tiny regions of tumour cells in the body can go unnoticed. These cells may multiply over time until they appear on test results or generate signs or symptoms. A doctor knowledgeable about your medical history can provide you with personalised information regarding your risk of recurrence during follow-up care. Your medical practitioner will ask you detailed health-related questions. Doctors routinely examined people diagnosed with meningioma for new symptoms with MRI scans and physical examinations. If the doctors subjects the pituitary gland to radiation therapy, they might assess hormone levels. The number of tests and scans required for follow-up care varies significantly from patient to patient. Your oncologist or neuro-oncologist will select your treatment regimen.
Neuropsychologist
The stress of anticipating a follow-up test or waiting for test results might be stressful for you or a family member. Medical practitioners often routinely examine people diagnosed with meningioma for new symptoms with MRI scans and physical examinations. If the doctors subjects the pituitary gland to radiation therapy, they might assess hormone levels. The majority of people anticipate experiencing adverse effects when undergoing treatment. However, it is surprisingly common for survivors to have some adverse effects last beyond the treatment term. Or, long-term adverse effects. Other side effects, known as late effects, can appear months or even years later. importance of follow-up care.
Meningioma and its therapies can impact both the functioning of the brain and your daily well-being. As a result, it might be beneficial for your health care team to monitor your quality of life and evaluate your cognitive (thought-process) abilities with specific tests which are frequently administered by a neuropsychologist. These tests may discover specific issues that may benefit from certain therapies. These include speech or occupational therapy, social worker counselling, or prescription drugs that might assist reduce weariness or improving memory.
Discuss your likelihood of developing such side effects with your doctor based on the type of tumor, your unique treatment plan, and your overall health. If you had a treatment known to have specific side effects, you might be subjected to physical examinations, scans, or blood tests to identify and manage them. You and your doctor should collaborate to create a customised follow-up care plan. Discuss any concerns you have regarding your physical or emotional health in the future. Learn more about how to cope with this type of stress. When treatment is over, ASCO offers forms to help keep track of the treatment you received and develop a survivorship care plan.
Additional Information:
This is also a perfect moment to discuss with your doctor, who will be in charge of your follow-up treatment. Some survivors continue to visit their oncologist, while others return to the care of their primary care physician or another health care provider. Several factors influence this decision, including the type and grade of meningioma, side effects, health insurance limitations, and your personal preferences. If a doctor who was not directly involved in your meningioma treatment will be leading your follow-up care, make sure to share your treatment summary and survivorship care plan papers with them as well as all future health care professionals. Details concerning your treatment are extremely useful to the medical professionals who will care for you for the rest of your life.
