Surgery
The length of your hospital stay depends on the type of surgery you have. Your surgeon and nurses will let you know how long you are expected to stay.
This may change after your surgery, depending on your recovery. Everyone takes a different amount of time to recover. As soon as it is safe, you will be able to go home, where you will continue your recovery.
There is a risk of problems or complications after any operation. Many problems are minor but some can be life threatening. Treating them as soon as possible is important. Your healthcare team will explain any risks before your surgery. This helps you and your family know what to expect.
After any major operation there is a risk of:
infection
blood clots
chest and breathing problems
bleeding
wound problems such as the surgical wound opening
allergic reaction to medication or blood products
After surgery, your healthcare team monitor you closely to look for any signs of complications. They give you medicines to lower the risk of complications. And when you are well enough, they might encourage you to do leg and breathing exercises, and to move around when you are able to.
It’s common for people to feel worse immediately after their surgery than they did before. This can be upsetting if you are not prepared for it. Removing a brain tumour is a big operation so it might be a while before you feel the benefits from having the tumour removed.
Brain surgery can cause swelling (oedema) in the brain. Your doctors and nurses monitor this closely and will give you treatment to reduce the swelling. But it might still cause symptoms such as:
headaches
feeling and being sick
weakness
dizzy spells
poor balance or lack of coordination
personality or behaviour changes
confusion
problems with your speech
fits (seizures)
risk of a
problems with your eyesight, such as blurred vision and double vision
Your symptoms might be worse at first. And you may notice symptoms that you didn’t have before.
This can be a difficult time for you and your family. They might worry that your operation has not worked. But symptoms usually lessen or disappear as you recover.
You might need to have steroids after surgery. Steroids can reduce swelling and pressure around the brain. This can help to reduce symptoms. It is also common to take medicine to prevent seizures (fits). These are called anti epileptics or anti convulsants.
Some people can make a good recovery after their surgery. Others may have some long term problems.
The problems you may have depends on the area of the brain where the tumour was - or still is if you only had part of the tumour removed.
Problems might include:
difficulty walking, for example, feeling unsteady and problems with balance
weakness in an arm or leg
difficulty concentrating or remembering things
behaviour changes
problems with speech
problems understanding information, such as things you read or what people say
epilepsy
changes to your eyesight
Feeling very tired is common when you are recovering from surgery to treat a brain tumour. You might feel sleepy or find it hard to concentrate. Small everyday tasks, such as brushing your teeth, can wear you out.
Everyone is different. There might be certain times when you feel tired. But some people can feel very tired all the time.
Read more about tiredness with cancer (fatigue)
Depending on the problems you have, you might get help and support from different healthcare professionals.
Physiotherapists can make an exercise plan for you to help you improve your fitness level.
They can help if you have problems with speaking or understanding. Such as finding it hard to find words or speak clearly. Or if it is difficult to understand what people say or what you read. They can also help if you have problems with swallowing.
An occupational therapist can assess you and help you find ways to manage your day to day life. This can include dressing, reading, and activities to stimulate the brain. They can also help you get equipment to help with daily tasks.
Your specialist nurse will explain your recovery and help if you have questions or worries.
Recovery time depends on your situation. For example, how big your tumour is, where it is in your brain and what operation you have. It will also depend on your age and general health, and whether or not you have any complications after your operation.
After you are discharged from hospital you will continue to recover when you get home. This might be for 6 to 12 weeks, but for some people it can take longer.
You will not be allowed to drive for some time if you have surgery to remove a brain tumour. This will depend on factors including:
your diagnosis
what surgery you have
whether you have had fits (seizures)
Your doctor will talk to you about this. We have further information about driving and brain tumours.
Read more about brain tumours and driving
You will need to tell the DVLA about your diagnosis and your operation. They will tell you how long a driving restriction will last. This will depend on your diagnosis and treatment, as well as any other complications such as fits (seizures).
Go to the DVLA website for Northern Ireland
You can usually fly about 6 weeks after brain surgery. This gives your wound time to heal and helps reduce pressure in your head.
Speak to your surgical team or specialist nurse for advice. They will also talk to you about travel insurance after brain surgery.
You should be able to play sport again once you have fully recovered from your surgery. It is recommended that you avoid contact sports for up to 3 months, for example, rugby or boxing.
You should be able to go swimming when your wound has healed. But it is sensible to make sure someone is with you for the first few months. This is because of the risk of having a fit.
Speak to your specialist nurse if you have any concerns about sports or swimming.
Depending on your job and the problems you might have, it can be hard to go back to work immediately after brain surgery. For example, if you have a job where your mental skills are very important, or if you operate heavy machinery. This can be very difficult to accept and adjust to.
We have more information about going back to work after treatment for a brain tumour.
Read about going back to work after treatment
After brain surgery, alcohol will affect you more than it did before. You might need to avoid alcohol with certain medicines.
Speak to your doctor or specialist nurse about safe alcohol limits after surgery.
You can have sex when you feel able to. But you might feel less interested in sex due to tiredness or a change to your sex drive ().
Talk to your healthcare team if this is a problem. They are there to help.
We have a section about how cancer and treatment can affect your sex life
Find out more about how to cope with a brain tumour and the support available to you and your family
Last reviewed: 19 Jun 2026
Next review due: 19 Jun 2029
Surgeons remove all or part of your tumour. There are different ways of doing this.
Treatment for a brain or spinal cord tumour depends on the type of tumour you have, where it is and your general health.
You have follow up appointments to check how you are and see if you have any problems or worries.
It can be difficult to find out that you have a brain tumour. There is practical and emotional support available to help you, your family and your friends cope with a brain or spinal cord tumour.
You have an appointment at the pre assessment clinic 1 or 2 weeks before your operation. You have tests to check your fitness and you meet members of your treatment team.
Primary brain tumours are cancers that start in the brain. Tumours can start in any part of the brain or related structures.
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