Brain doctors. Part 3, Against the odds.

The third programme of three in a series which was shot at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, the county's major A&E centre. Jay Jayamohan, paediatric neurosurgeon goes on his rounds and has fun with the children on the wards. Unfortunately, children with brain tumours form a major part of his surgical time. A child with a large tumour has surgery; the tumour which may be cancerous is enmeshed within the girl's motor function. Alex Green treats the adult patients; Chris has a tumour which was discovered when he went to the optician complaining of blurred vision - a week later he is in surgery and operation is very risky. There is footage from an endoscope which penetrates the inner brain. The mother with the child with the tumour is utterly disdraught as Jay is convinced that the tumour will be malignant. There are apparently over 100 different types of brain tumours. Alex Green is a keen microlight pilot, we see him enjoying his hobby. Jay also works in the Craniofacial department; he operates on children with rare genetic conditions. A 1 year old, Sophia, with Crouzon's Syndrome is seen; her malformed skull is squeezing her brain. Sophia's operation is delayed as they can't find a recovery bed for her. Chris has his stitches removed; he makes a good recovery then when he returns for scan, there is a tumour in his mid-brain. This may only bey treatable only via radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Chris returns for a biopsy; he has to wait 3 weeks for the results. Several weeks later, Sophia returns for her rescheduled operation. Chris finds that he has the kind of tumour which will respond well to radiotherapy, although it is malign. The plastic surgeons have created a new skull for Sophia. Jay and his colleagues go to play golf to relax.