According to the American Brain Tumor Association, glioblastomas represent about 14% of all primary brain tumours, with approximately 12,000 to 14,000 new cases being diagnosed in the United States annually. While the disease is one of the most malignant and common types of brain tumours, its signs are often left unnoticed.The tumour, which occurs when the supportive cells in the brain grow and divide uncontrollably, is extremely fatal, and most patients survive only for 14 to 16 months post-diagnosis.Now, Dr Joseph Georges, a neurosurgeon based in Phoenix, has revealed 5 early warning signs for glioblastoma with The Post. “What makes glioblastoma particularly difficult to treat is its highly invasive nature — it spreads microscopic cancer cells deep into surrounding brain tissue, making it impossible to remove completely with surgery,” he added.
What are the risk factors for Glioblastoma ?
While the disease affects adults between 45 and 70 years, the average age of its diagnosis is 64. Some genetic disorders, such as Turcot syndrome and Lynch syndrome, along with exposure to ionising radiation as a part of radiation therapy for other cancers, can increase the risk of glioblastoma.
What are the symptoms of Glioblastoma ?
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The symptoms of the cancer can differ on the basis of the tumour’s location in the skull. According to Georges, the symptoms may include headaches, confusion, seizures, speech difficulty or weakness in one side of the body.
How is Glioblastoma diagnosed?
The existence of a tumour can be identified with a CT scan or MRI, with the diagnosis being confirmed with a tissue biopsy. “Several factors influence how long a person might live with glioblastoma,” Georges said, “including their overall health, neurological function at diagnosis, age and how well they respond to treatments such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.”
How is Glioblastoma treated?
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Tumours that start elsewhere in the body and spread to the brain tend to form masses that are better defined than glioblastoma and thus easily removed surgically. These are called metastatic brain tumours.“Glioblastoma’s diffuse growth pattern, genetic complexity and resistance to standard treatments make it one of the most challenging brain tumours to treat,” Georges noted.“Complete removal is usually not achievable due to the tumour’s infiltrative nature.”After radiation therapy, surgery is followed to remove the residual tumour cells and delay progression and chemotherapy is administered to enhance the effectiveness of radiation.