Active monitoring or Watch and Wait for a brain tumour

Live recording: Living with a low grade tumour

Please watch the recording of our live panel discussion about living with a low grade tumour. The discussion is chaired by Gideon Burrows, who is also living with a low grade tumour.

What is ‘Watch and Wait’ or active monitoring for brain tumours?

Some brain tumours grow slowly and are unlikely to spread. They can cause few or no symptoms for many years.  In these cases, specialists may recommend a ‘Watch and Wait’ or active monitoring approach rather than give treatments that can cause considerable side-effects.

Examples where this might be the case include:

• Tumours with no symptoms that were discovered by chance e.g. following a scan for a head injury
• Tumours in which the symptoms are not adversely affecting your quality of life e.g. seizures that are controlled by anti-epilepsy drugs
• The tumour is growing in an area that’s difficult to operate on and treatment will cause more harm than doing nothing
• You choose to not have surgery or receive treatment.

Active monitoring is also sometimes used after initial treatment, such as biopsy or debulking surgery where part of the tumour is removed, before giving other treatments that could cause worse side-effects.

How does active monitoring work?

If you’re on ’Watch and Wait’, you’ll see your specialist for regular check-ups/MRI scans. Having MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans means that the size and features of your tumour can be very accurately monitored and compared over time. These can vary in frequency, from every few months to every couple of years.

You might begin treatment if:

• there’s a marked increase in tumour size
• you develop symptoms, or worsening of symptoms, that badly affect your quality of life
  e.g. uncontrollable seizures
• the tumour becomes a higher grade (starts growing more quickly).

Depending on your tumour and age, this could take many years, or not happen at all.

I utilised my hobbies, such as running, which helped my mental health and allowed me to de-stress.

Read Andrew's story

Andrew Dean-Young, diagnosed with a grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma brain tumour in 2016

“I was out for a run when suddenly I woke up on the floor, with complete memory loss of the past half an hour. I was taken to the hospital where a shadow was found on my brain, and following subsequent scans, I was told I had a brain tumour.

“I received treatment for 10 months, as well as undergoing surgery, but due to the type of tumour I had, I was told I had to ‘watch and wait’ as often, similar tumours are likely to return within five years. 

“Nevertheless, I utilised my hobbies, such as running, which helped my mental health and allowed me to de-stress. Going to local comedy shows also allowed me to heal, as ‘laughter is always the best medicine.’

I feel lucky that my work hasn’t been too affected, and I’m still able to work full time. I’m determined to make the most of my life now, and short term goals of mine include climbing Mount Snowdon for the first time, running 10k races to raise money for charity and releasing a new novel. I’m also an avid reader and use it as a way to relax. I’m so thankful for my support group – talking to people is vital and a great cure.“


Join one of our Online Support Communities for more stories and tips about coping with a brain tumour diagnosis from people who know what you’re going through.

Online Support Communities

Emotional impact of active monitoring, or ‘Watch and Wait’

Being told that you have a brain tumour, but no active treatment will be given until it grows bigger, or becomes more aggressive, can be very frightening. The time between appointments can also seem (or be) long.

People who’ve been put on active monitoring have told us about what they have found to help. These include:

• learn more about your tumour and the support that’s available – it can make you feel more in control
• learn more about available treatment options before you have to make any decisions about how you want to proceed
• ask how far apart your appointments will be – so you know what to expect – and whether there’s a named contact
• ask your health team for advice about when to contact a healthcare professional with regard to new or changing symptoms
• keep a notebook in which you can write any questions that you have for your next appointment. Write them down as they come to mind
• keep your own files of every appointment and what was discussed
• talk to your family and friends – about the risks and benefits and how you’re feeling
• speak to others in the same situation – we have several online support communities that you can access from anywhere in the world and at any time. You can ‘meet’ other brain tumour patients and carers and discuss your worries or fears and share ideas
• consider whether talking to a professional counsellor could help. We run a free counselling service for people affected by a brain tumour.

Tips from our community

By joining one of our Online Support Communities, you can get more tips about living with or beyond a brain tumour diagnosis from people who truly understand what you’re going through.

Find out more

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• Verified by: Lindsay Suddell, Charlotte Smith
• Date checked: 22/03/26
• Next check: 22/03/29