Understanding Glioblastoma

Did You Know? Glioblastoma accounts for 52% of all primary brain tumors

Glioblastoma is the Most Common and Most Aggressive Form of Primary Malignant Brain Tumors

An Estimated 80,000 New Cases of Primary Brain Tumors Are Diagnosed Each Year

Glioblastoma is the most common type of brain cancer among adults and is usually aggressive and spreads quickly. It is more frequent in older adults, and more commonly occurs in men than women.

Please read the following guide to learn more about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

01│Symptoms

Glioblastomas usually occur in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain, but can also be located in other areas of the brain or spinal cord. Because these tumors grow quickly, pressure on the brain generally causes the first symptoms, which may include:

• Constant headaches
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Trouble thinking
• Mood or personality changes
• Visual changes
• Memory or speech difficulties

02│Diagnosis

In order to make a positive diagnosis, a neurological exam and imaging tests will be performed to determine the location and size of the brain tumor. A biopsy may also be performed to analyze the type of cells in the growth and the level of aggressiveness.

03│Treatment

The goal of treatment is to slow and control tumor growth. There are four main categories of treatment for Glioblastoma:

• Surgery – Removal of most or all of the tumor
• Radiation & Chemotherapy – to kill as many remaining tumor cells as possible after surgery, and to slow the growth of tumors that could not be removed by surgery.
• Tumor Treating Fields Therapy (TTF) – TTF uses an electrical field to disrupt the tumor cells’ ability to multiply.
• Targeted Drug Therapy – Targeted drugs focus on specific abnormalities to cause cancer cells to die.

04│Palliative Care & Prognosis

Due to the serious nature of Glioblastoma, palliative care focuses on providing relief from pain and other symptoms associated with the patient’s treatment. With new and advanced therapies, the prognosis and survival rate continues to improve.  

To learn more about living with a brain tumor and to find support, please visit: http://www.abta.org/

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References

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glioma/home/ovc-20129412

http://www.abta.org/brain-tumor-information/types-of-tumors/glioblastoma.html

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/brain-cancer/what-is-glioblastoma#1