Golioblastoma is the most common and aggressive type of malignant brain tumor in adults. It comes from glial cells, which support the nervous system. The location and size of the tumor can affect its symptoms, causing headaches, nausea, seizures, vision problems, and personality changes. In this post, we will discuss the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of glioblastoma in detail.
The exact cause of glioblastoma is unknown. However, some factors may increase the risk of developing this condition, such as:
Previous radiation therapy to the head.
Exposure to certain chemicals, such as pesticides, petroleum, synthetic rubber, and vinyl chloride.
Genetic disorders that predispose to tumor formation, such as neurofibromatosis, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and Turcot syndrome.
Being male, older than 45 years, or of Caucasian or Asian ethnicity.
Glioblastoma symptoms tend to come on quickly as the tumor grows and puts pressure on the brain. The symptoms may include:
Persistent headaches that worsen over time.
Nausea and vomiting.
Blurred or double vision.
Changes in cognitive abilities, such as memory loss, confusion, or difficulty speaking.
Personality changes, such as mood swings, irritability, or depression.
Muscle weakness or balance problems.
Seizures.
Numbness or tingling in different parts of the body.
To diagnose glioblastoma, a doctor will perform a neurological examination to check for signs of brain dysfunction. An MRI or CT scan will also be ordered to look for brain tumors. In order to confirm a diagnosis and determine the tumor grade, a biopsy may be needed to obtain a sample of the tumor tissue and examine it under a microscope. A glioblastoma is a grade 4 cancer, which indicates that it grows rapidly and is very invasive.
As glioblastoma cells are very resistant to conventional therapies and many drugs cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, treatment is challenging. The most common options are:
The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor as much as possible without damaging the surrounding healthy brain tissue. However, complete removal may not be possible because glioblastomas spread to other parts of the brain.
In radiation therapy, high-energy rays are used to kill tumor cells after surgery or shrink tumours before surgery. It can also relieve symptoms caused by swelling of the brain.
As part of radiation therapy or after surgery, chemotherapy may be used to kill cancer cells or prevent them from dividing. In the case of glioblastoma, temozolomide is the most commonly used drug, which can be taken orally or injected into a vein.
A device attached to the scalp delivers low intensity alternating currents to the tumor area to disrupt the division of cancer cells. This is a novel cancer treatment field. As a combination with radiation therapy and chemotherapy, this therapy may be used after surgery and radiation therapy.
Using targeted drugs involves targeting specific molecules or genes that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells. Bevacizumab (which blocks the formation of blood vessels), erlotinib (which inhibits a growth factor receptor), and idasanutlin (which activates a protein that kills cells) are some examples of targeted drugs for glioblastoma.
As most cases of glioblastoma are sporadic and have no identifiable cause, there is no known way to prevent it. However, some general measures may help reduce your risk of developing this disease:
Avoiding exposure to radiation, especially to the head.
Avoiding or limiting exposure to chemicals that may be carcinogenic, such as pesticides, petroleum products, synthetic rubber products, and vinyl chloride.
Avoiding cigarette smoking.
Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in processed foods and sugar.
Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly.
It is imperative to diagnose and treat glioblastoma as soon as possible. If you or someone you know experiences persistent headaches, nausea, seizures, vision symptoms problems, or personality changes, contact your doctor immediately. People with glioblastoma may have a better prognosis and quality of life if they are detected and treated early.
