Glioblastomas are the most common primary cancer of the brain, with 13,000 new cases being diagnosed each year in the United States. Although it is a fast-moving cancer, doctors know a lot about this type of tumor and are finding ways to fight it.
Here are five things you need to know about glioblastomas.
1. What is a glioblastoma?
A glioblastoma is a central nervous system tumor. It is formed in the supportive tissue of the spinal cord and brain and is typically found more often in adults. It is an astrocytic tumor, which means it begins in the star-shaped cells in the brain called astrocytes.
2. What are the symptoms?
Brain tumor symptoms depend on where the tumor starts in the brain, what size it is, and what part of the brain it controls. The symptoms are also not the same in every person. Symptoms can include:
- Progressively worsening headache
- Frequent nausea and vomiting, often worse in the morning
- Loss of appetite
- Vision, hearing, and speech problems
- Loss of balance and trouble walking
- Weakness
- Unusual sleepiness or change in activity level
- Changes in personality, mood, ability to focus, or behavior
- Seizures
3. Are there certain risk factors for glioblastomas?
The cause of most adult brain tumors is unknown. However, doctors have found that some rare genetic syndromes may increase the risk of brain tumors, including glioblastoma.
Genetic syndromes that increase risk:
- Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) or 2 (NF2)
- von Hippel-Lindau disease
- Tuberous sclerosis
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome
- Turcot syndrome type 1 or 2
- Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome
4. How do doctors diagnose a glioblastoma?
Doctors use various procedures that examine the brain and diagnose a possible brain tumor. In addition to a physical exam, doctors may perform neurological exams to test a person’s mental status and coordination, as well exams to test vision. Other tests can include:
Biopsies are also used as a tool to diagnose glioblastomas. Brain biopsies take a piece of tissue from the brain and test it for cancerous cells. This is typically done after a brain tumor has been revealed by imaging tests.
5. What treatments are available for glioblastomas?
Several different treatment options are available for glioblastomas, and are chosen based upon the tumor and your oncologist’s treatment plan:
- Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are routinely provided.
- Chemotherapy can sometimes placed into the brain during surgery.
- Radiation and chemotherapy given at the same time.
- A clinical trial of a new treatment added to a standard treatment.
Learn More:
There are a number of Dana-Farber clinical trials for glioblastoma patients. Some clinical trials are for newly diagnosed patients, while other trials are for patients with recurrent glioblastoma. The team at Dana-Farber’s Center for Neuro-Oncology regularly develops new clinical trials for treatment options. A national list of trials is available at clinicaltrials.gov.
Learn more about the treatment of adult brain tumors by visiting the Center for Neuro-Oncology at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center.