Obtaining a Diagnosis
Processing Your Tissue Sample in the Lab
A definitive diagnosis of your tumour can only be made by examining the tissue obtained from your surgery. This is done by a specialist doctor called a pathologist. Many tumours require multiple types of tests before an accurate diagnosis can be made. Sometimes your tumour tissue will need to be sent overseas for testing. The more tests required, the longer the process takes. Often this can take several weeks. The below comic explains the process required to obtain an accurate diagnosis.
This comic is a collaboration between Dr Clinton Turner (pathologist, Auckland Hospital), Janina Gaudin (artist), Dr Neal Curtis (University of Auckland), Dr Thomas Park (Centre for Brain Research) and Awhina Walters (clinical nurse specialist, Auckland Hospital) for Brain Tumour Support NZ.