Surgery Remains Primary Treatment for Brain Tumours, Delay Can Be Fatal

The primary treatment for brain tumour disease is through surgery, according to Neurovascular Neurosurgery Subspecialist at Pondok Indah Hospital, Mardjono Tjahjadi. The doctor, familiarly known as Joy, revealed that many patients are still afraid when advised to undergo brain surgery. In fact, delaying medical treatment for a brain tumour can have fatal consequences. “We hope that with the right technique, brain surgery does not mean losing function. A brain tumour, if left untreated, will also kill or cause blindness or paralysis,” said Dr Joy during a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday (11/6/2026). A brain tumour is defined as the growth of abnormal cells in or around the brain that can disrupt various health functions. As the most complex organ, the brain has specific parts known as eloquent areas. Eloquent areas are important zones that control vital human functions. If a tumour grows in these areas, conventional surgery carries a high risk of causing permanent neurological damage to the patient. To minimise the risk of damage to these vital areas, the medical world is now applying the awake brain surgery method. This technique allows the medical team to directly monitor important brain functions during the tumour removal procedure. “The patient will be given a local anaesthetic on the scalp and surrounding area so they do not feel pain and remain conscious during the operation. The doctor will interact with the patient to ensure important brain areas continue to function properly,” explained the neurosurgery specialist graduate from Padjadjaran University. With this method, the risk of speech, motor, and other neurological disorders post-surgery can be minimised, so the patient’s quality of life after tumour removal is maintained.