Kathmandu
Cancer Center
Kathmandu
Cancer Center
A brain tumour diagnosis can feel overwhelming. Whether your family is facing MRI uncertainty, post-surgery confusion, or urgent treatment decisions, our neuro-oncology team helps guide the next appropriate step with specialist review and advanced treatment planning in Nepal.
Families often hear the words “brain tumour” and assume every patient has the same disease. In reality, the treatment differs enormously depending on the tumour type, its location, age of the patient, and whether surgery has already been done.
One of the most common adult primary brain tumours. Often treated with surgery followed by precision radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Some patients also need molecular-guided planning.
A lymphoma arising in the brain or spinal cord. Many families are surprised to learn that this often does not require major brain surgery and is mainly treated with chemotherapy-based protocols.
Children need especially careful planning. Some require cranial or craniospinal radiation under anaesthesia, with supportive pediatric monitoring throughout treatment.
Brain tumours create fear because symptoms involve speech, walking, vision, seizures, memory, or weakness. But treatment decisions should not be made in panic. The same MRI can lead to very different treatment recommendations depending on specialist review.
This is why second opinion and multidisciplinary discussion matter greatly in neuro-oncology.
Families are guided on what should happen next — not simply told to “wait and see.”
One of the most common misunderstandings is that brain tumour treatment ends after surgery. In reality, surgery is often only the first step. The pathology report, residual tumour on MRI, age of the patient, and tumour aggressiveness decide whether radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or close surveillance is needed next.
Many families lose valuable time after neurosurgery because they assume “tumour has been removed.” For aggressive tumours such as glioblastoma, treatment planning should continue quickly after wound healing. MRI review and pathology correlation are essential before deciding whether radiation and chemotherapy should begin.
Many malignant or residual brain tumours require carefully planned radiotherapy after surgery to reduce recurrence risk and improve local control.
Certain tumour types, especially gliomas and CNS lymphomas, may require chemotherapy or oral anti-cancer medicines after diagnosis confirmation.
Brain radiotherapy must be highly accurate because surrounding normal brain controls speech, memory, movement, and vision. Modern planning allows tumour-focused treatment while reducing unnecessary dose to healthy tissue.
Frequently required after surgery for malignant tumours to sterilize microscopic residual disease and reduce regrowth.
→ Common in glioma casesUsed when surgery is incomplete, unsafe, or not feasible. Some patients receive radiation as the main local treatment.
→ Non-operable / residual tumoursPatients whose cancer has spread to the brain may need whole brain or focused cranial radiation depending on number and location of lesions.
→ Secondary brain lesionsChildren requiring immobilization can receive carefully monitored treatment under anaesthesia when necessary.
→ Child neuro-oncology careFamilies often spend weeks travelling or waiting after neurosurgery before meeting an oncologist. For many malignant brain tumours, this delay is not ideal. Once the patient is stable, post-operative planning should begin promptly.
Not all brain tumours are treated the same way. Some require IV chemotherapy, some require oral medicines, and some tumour types rely heavily on medicine-based treatment rather than repeat surgery.
Families often assume another operation is the only option if tumour remains. In many cases, carefully planned radiation and medical treatment become the more important next step.
Treating a child with a brain tumour requires a very different level of planning, patience, and family support. Children may need special immobilization, sedation or anaesthesia for radiation, nutritional support, and close symptom monitoring throughout the treatment course.
Yes — when properly planned. Pediatric cranial radiotherapy is delivered with specialist immobilization and monitored anaesthesia support where needed so that treatment remains accurate and stress is reduced for both child and parents.
An MRI report alone is not enough to decide the full treatment plan. Good neuro-oncology care depends on combining radiology, pathology, surgery notes, and neurological condition.
Location, pressure effect, contrast pattern, and spread assessment.
If operated, extent of surgery and post-operative status are carefully assessed.
The exact tumour type changes everything in treatment planning.
Walking, speech, seizures, swallowing, and daily activity level matter greatly.
Decision on radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surveillance, or additional intervention.
Some patients are told to “observe only,” some are rushed toward repeat surgery, and some are sent outside without full oncology discussion. A structured neuro-oncology second opinion often clarifies what actually needs to happen first.
Brain tumour symptoms depend on where the tumour is pressing. Some patients present gradually, while others suddenly develop neurological symptoms that should not be ignored.
Whether surgery has already been done, you have been told radiation is needed, your child has been diagnosed, or your family wants a careful second opinion before making a major decision — our neuro-oncology team can help review the next appropriate step.
New Baneshwor City Clinic · Main Cancer Campus Tathali Bhaktapur · नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस्
Yes. Many patients can now receive specialist radiotherapy, chemotherapy, post-operative oncology planning, pediatric support, and neuro-oncology second opinion in Nepal without routine outside referral.
No. Some patients need surgery, some need radiation after surgery, some require medicine-based treatment, and some non-operable tumours are managed primarily through oncology planning.
Because surgery often does not complete treatment. Many malignant tumours require post-operative radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or close surveillance depending on pathology and MRI findings.
Yes. With specialist immobilization and monitored anaesthesia support where necessary, children can receive carefully planned cranial radiotherapy safely and accurately.
Yes. MRI films, surgery notes, pathology reports, discharge summaries, and previous treatment advice can all be reviewed to help clarify the best next step.
Yes. You can read our Nepali page here: ब्रेन ट्युमर उपचार नेपालीमा →
Confused after MRI, surgery, or pathology? Our oncology specialists can review your reports and explain the next step clearly. Send Reports for Review →
Not at all. "Inoperable" means surgery is not the right approach — it does not mean untreatable. Many brain tumours are managed without surgery. Radiation can shrink and control tumours that a surgeon cannot safely remove. Chemotherapy works on certain types, like CNS Lymphoma, without any operation.
Send the scan and any reports to KCC. The oncologist will review and tell you clearly what options exist. This review costs nothing and takes 24 hours.
KCC does not have Gamma Knife or CyberKnife. These are specific brands of equipment for very short, high-dose single-session treatment — mainly for small, deep tumours.
What KCC does have is IMRT and VMAT — precision radiation delivered over several weeks in smaller daily doses. For most brain tumours, this fractionated approach is equally effective and often preferable, because it is gentler on normal brain tissue. Your KCC oncologist can tell you honestly whether your specific case would benefit from the single-session approach, and where to access it if so.
This is one of the most common and most important fears. The honest answer depends on the type of radiation, the location, and the dose.
Modern precision radiation — IMRT — specifically shapes the dose to avoid the parts of the brain that control memory and cognition wherever possible. This is one of the main reasons the older, less precise techniques have been replaced. Side effects still exist but are substantially reduced with modern planning.
Whole-brain radiation — used for brain metastases — carries a higher risk of cognitive effects, and this is always discussed with families before treatment. For focal tumours, the risk is much lower.
Your oncologist at KCC will explain specifically what to expect for your husband's situation — before treatment starts, not after.
Two weeks is not late — contact KCC immediately. Most brain tumour protocols allow four to six weeks between surgery and the start of radiation. Two weeks gone means two to four weeks remaining — enough time to do this properly.
WhatsApp the surgical report, the pathology report (especially if it includes IDH and MGMT markers), and the most recent MRI to 9818-226237 today. The KCC team will confirm a timeline within 24 hours.
Radiation itself is painless. You lie still, the machine rotates around you, and you feel nothing during the treatment. Each session typically takes fifteen to thirty minutes in the treatment room — much of that is positioning rather than the actual radiation delivery.
A mask is made for your head before treatment starts — it holds your head in exactly the right position for every session. This can feel slightly snug but is not painful. The team prepares you fully for this before your first session.
Side effects from radiation build up over the course of treatment — fatigue, and sometimes hair loss in the treated area — but these are managed with the team throughout.
Treatment runs Monday to Friday, with weekends off. The number of weeks depends on the tumour type:
Each daily visit takes about thirty to forty-five minutes total, including getting to the treatment room, positioning, and the actual treatment. Patients drive or are brought in each morning and go home the same day.
These are markers that tell us what the tumour is made of at a molecular level — and more importantly, how it will respond to treatment.
IDH mutation generally means the tumour is slower-growing and more treatable — a better result than IDH-wildtype. MGMT methylation means the standard chemotherapy drug is more likely to work. Together these two results significantly shape the treatment plan KCC will recommend.
If your report does not include these markers, KCC can arrange them. Treating a glioma without knowing these results means treating without the full picture.
KCC does not perform brain surgery — tumour removal, biopsy, or shunt operations. These require a neurosurgical team. In Kathmandu, neurosurgery is available at TUTH, Norvic, Grande, and other centres. KCC works alongside these teams.
KCC also does not offer Gamma Knife or CyberKnife radiosurgery. For some very specific situations — small, deep tumours requiring single-session treatment — this may be better accessed elsewhere, and KCC will advise you honestly if that applies to your case.
For the vast majority of brain tumour patients — radiation, chemotherapy, post-surgical care, molecular diagnosis, CNS lymphoma, children's RT under anaesthesia — KCC is a complete centre. You should not need to go to India for these.
मस्तिष्क ट्युमरको निदान सुन्नु त्रासदायक हुन्छ। तर एउटा कुरा जान्नुस् — उपचारका लागि भारत जानु आवश्यक छैन। KCC मा IMRT Radiation, बालबालिकाका लागि Anaesthesia मा उपचार, र CNS Lymphoma को पूर्ण उपचार नेपालमै उपलब्ध छ। सबै परामर्श नेपाली भाषामा हुन्छ। NHIF बीमा स्वीकार्य छ। तपाईंको report WhatsApp मा पठाउनुस् — हाम्रो team २४ घन्टाभित्र जवाफ दिन्छ।
After that, KCC walks with you. Send your scan or report, ask your question, or simply call. There is no wrong way to start — and no question too basic. Our team is Nepali, our consultations are in Nepali, and we understand what this moment feels like for your family.