After completion of treatment, the patient’s Johns Hopkins brain tumor care team will provide follow-up care and coordinate any necessary rehabilitation services.
Follow-up care:
The patient will see a neurosurgeon or neurologist for periodic examinations and brain scans, usually MRIs. The doctor will check for tumor recurrence and possible problems caused by the tumor or the treatment the patient received.
These problems may include:
- Weakness
- Loss of balance
- Loss of vision
- Loss of memory
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty doing complex tasks
- Difficulty making decisions
The brain can sometimes heal itself, but this requires time.
Rehabilitation:
The patient may need to go to a rehabilitation facility, or perform therapy at home or at an outpatient facility, to regain some skills. The Johns Hopkins brain tumor care team will recommend the right type of therapy for each patient.
Types of rehabilitation facilities:
If an inpatient stay at a rehabilitation facility is the best option for the patient, the brain care tumor team will help determine the type. A social worker will help the patient find a facility close to home, work with the patient’s insurance company and handle other details.
Home therapy
If home therapy is recommended, the team will arrange for home therapists to visit the patient. They usually come two to three times a week for 30–60 minutes.
Outpatient therapy
If outpatient therapy is recommended, the patient will receive a referral or prescription before leaving the hospital. This will detail the type of therapy necessary.
Support services:
Support services at the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center are available even after the patient completes treatment. These include:
- Counseling
- Information about education, support groups and supportive care (e.g., home health care and hospice care).
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