Life After Brain Metastases

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Psychologist Timothy Ahles says cancer treatment can make it difficult for some people to perform everyday activities.
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After recovery from brain tumor treatment, it can be hard to get back to your normal life. The experts at MSK’s Adult Survivorship Program are here to help as you explore your next steps. We offer services and support to help you and your loved ones prepare for life after treatment.

Rehabilitation and Exercise

Physical and occupational therapy can help you get back key functions and enjoy daily activities again. Our experts can help you recover after treatment. We will help you learn therapeutic exercises and neuromuscular training. This can make your body stronger and improve your endurance and balance. These exercises can prevent falls and other injuries. They can also help you feel less pain during recovery.

Counseling and Support

Sometimes you and your loved ones just need to talk. We can connect you to someone trained to help you make sense of your journey before, during, and after treatment.

Our Counseling Center offers counseling sessions to help you and your family. These sessions can be a healthy way to work through stress and anxiety related to treatment and recovery.

Brain Tumor Support Group

MSK hosts a support group just for people who have brain tumors or are have recovered from them. These sessions are led by our social workers, nurses, and psychologists. They can help you adjust to life during and after treatment. Patients, their family, and caregivers are welcome to join us. You can talk about your experience, learn from other people, and get support.

Search for “brain tumor” to learn about upcoming virtual support groups.

Managing Seizures

Seizures are common in people with brain tumors, even after treatment. Depending on its location, the tumor can cause temporary problems with consciousness, movement, or speech.

Your doctor often can prescribe antiseizure medication. We use an electroencephalogram (ee-LEK-troh-en-SEH-fuh-loh-gram), or an EEG, to monitor the electrical activity of your brain waves. EEGs often can be done during a regular visit to your neurologist.

If you still have seizures, your neurologist may monitor your brain waves with an ambulatory EEG. You will wear a special brainwave monitor for up to 72 hours. You can do your usual activities while the monitor records information.

Integrative Medicine

We offer complementary services to soothe and heal not just your body, but your mind and spirit. Integrative medicine therapies, also called complementary therapies, are therapies and treatments that go along with your cancer care.

Our Integrative Medicine Service can be a valuable part of your care plan. We have classes in activities such as yoga, tai chi, and chair aerobics. Programs include:

  • Acupuncture
  • Hypnotherapy
  • Massage
  • Meditation
  • Music therapy
  • Nutritional counseling programs
  • Visualization
Older Adults

Brain metastases is a challenge for people of all ages. If you are 65 or older, you may face even greater challenges. Your care team includes healthcare professionals who have special training and experience in treating older adults. We make sure you have all the support you need during your diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

Learn more about what we do at MSK to help older adults

Supportive Care and Pain Management

MSK focuses on cancer care, not just on treating the disease. Our specialists in supportive care can help you cope with the side effects of therapy. This includes pain, nausea (feeling like throwing up), and fatigue (feeling very tired). We can also help with your emotional and spiritual needs during and after cancer treatment.

Learn more about how our Supportive Care Service can help you.

MSK’s pain specialists can help you with your pain during and after treatments. We will build a plan based on your needs. Our experts will work with your doctor and pharmacists. We have solutions for both acute physical pain (sudden pain) and chronic pain (pain that can last longer). Our goal is to keep you as comfortable as possible.

Learn more about how we can help with your pain.

Request an Appointment

Call 212-639-5837
Available Monday through Friday, to (Eastern time)