Driving with a treated brain tumour.

[topgun]

Reference my Recently diagnosed with a brain tumour and subsequent Gamma Knife treatment, just how long should I expect to give up driving? The Doc is talking about a year. The DVLA site isn't clear or I'm not suffering the symptoms they say are qualifications to surrender my licence.

[Elaine141]

It would be best to contact DVLA diectly on the phone, you will then receive the correct information that you require regarding driving. Failure to disclose medical conditions can result in prosecution and even worse your insurance becoming invalid should you have an accident. Good luck and I hope everything goes well for you x

[topgun in reply to Elaine141]

Got fitted with the Mask today, Nova are claiming 95% success rate for their treatment which is promising. the only fly in the ointment is they reckon it will be a year before I can drive again. Seeing as though I was driving with no faults right up till yesterday and don't have any of the normal symptoms to warrant not driving, I'm a bit suspect about that!. Going to be doing a lot of visits to the recycling depot over the weekend for sure!

[hedgehoggy in reply to topgun]

Sorry i cant help you with the driving problem as I don't. But regarding the mask if you want to keep it ask them when you've finished. I kept mine rather bulky so In the attic but wondered if I could use it at Halloween somehow. Ha ha.

Hoggy

[twopars12]

If you drive anything like my wife you should give up now ha ha.

[rebelina]

Here is the document medical professionals are to use - "Assessing fitness to drive

– a guide for medical professionals":

gov.uk/government/uploads/s...

I read it as one year from the completion of primary treatment, but my brother was two years (we queried it a couple of times and eventually got a letter from DVLA saying two years from the completion of primary treatment, because he had brain mets in both supratentorial and infratentorial

parts of his brain). Just at the point he was away to re-apply for his license he had progression, so the clock has been reset

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

HI topgun

Sorry for the delay in responding to you, and have resourced as much information for you in regards to your driving.

The DVLA advise the following: (gov.uk/brain-tumour-and-dri...

"You must tell DVLA if you have a brain tumour. You must also speak to your doctor, who might tell you to surrender your licence.

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result."

You’ll usually get a decision within 6 weeks. You’ll get a letter from DVLA if it’s going to take longer.

DVLA might:

contact your doctor or consultant arrange for you to be examined

ask you to take a driving assessment, or an eyesight or driving test

You can usually keep driving while DVLA are considering your application.

If you’ve told DVLA about a condition when applying to renew your licence, follow the guidance about driving that’s in the form.

Contact DVLA if you need advice or to check on your case."

As you have seen on the website gov.uk, the DVLA may decide to give you a shorter licence (as in 1,2 or 3 years) or remove your licence completely. You can reapply for your licence but there would be medical/specialist decisions on your health and fitness to drive.

gov.uk/guidance/neurologica...

If you wish to discuss anything you can call us on our free nurse led helpline number on

0333 32307200

All the best

Roy Castle Support Team

[topgun in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Strange this one, It would appear that I have had a Tumour in the Pons area of the brain ( Brain stem )for at least 6 months with no side effects until December when a slight numbness to the lips and some tingling occured to my R/H finger tips. In fact I was driving right up to the Gamma Knife treatment! Reporting that to the Oncologist resulted in a CT scan to investigate in late December , followed by a MRI which confirmed a lesion . That was then treated last week by 5 sessions of Fractional Gamma Knife Treatment. The Oncologist tells me there is no chance of a seizure as this area controls things to with sensory feelings.

I have now told the DVLA and await their decision and will probably surrender my licence until it gets sorted out.