You should know what to anticipate from your treatment if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with glioblastoma. This article covers the symptoms of the disease, possible treatments, and the overall survival rate. If you suspect that you or a loved one has this disease, you should see a doctor immediately.
Symptoms
There are many symptoms of glioblastoma, and they depend on the size of the tumor and its location in the brain. These symptoms can be mild to severe and vary from person to person. As cancer progresses, symptoms become more frequent and increase in severity. These symptoms may improve with treatment, or they may worsen as a result of the side effects of the treatment.
For glioblastoma, surgery is frequently the primary treatment of choice. This treatment removes as many tumors as possible, including tumor cells. The tissue is then sent to a pathologist for analysis. This treatment can also include chemotherapy or radiation. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for glioblastoma, but aggressive treatment can significantly improve the survival rate. In addition, some foundations like the Glioblastoma Foundation aim to increase public awareness of glioblastoma and honor those who have lost their lives to the devastating disease.
Patients with symptoms of glioblastoma may experience neurological symptoms such as weakness, confusion, and speech difficulties. Neurological examinations and imaging scans can help determine the location and size of the tumor. MRI is often used to create detailed images of the brain. This type of imaging allows doctors to differentiate tumor cells from healthy cells.
Patients with glioblastoma should visit their doctor for an assessment. Unfortunately, 70% of patients will develop a recurrence within a year after the initial diagnosis. Treatment for the reproduction of glioblastoma can include additional chemotherapy drugs, surgery, or radiation.
Treatment Options
Treatment for recurrent glioblastoma is challenging, with few therapeutic options available and a lack of a standard of care. Nevertheless, most patients survive less than a year after diagnosis. However, researchers are trying to develop more effective treatment approaches. There are several treatments available, including surgery and radiation. In addition, Glioblastoma Foundation professionals launched several initiatives to help with its national commitment to ensuring individualized, accessible patient care.
Patients can participate in clinical trials involving immunotherapies and vaccines. These new therapies are geared toward treating individual tumors. These trials may improve survival and help patients find a treatment that works. In addition, MRI scans can detect the presence of tumors in the brain and may provide information on the exact location and type of cancer.
Another treatment approach is gene therapy, which aims to alter the genes of tumors. This therapy may make tumor cells more sensitive to chemotherapy. It may also protect blood stem cells from the drug’s toxic effects. Another promising treatment option is immunotherapy, which targets the tumor’s immune cells.
One type of glioblastoma treatment involves the administration of drugs through a vein. These treatments are usually given concurrently with surgery. In addition, radiation therapy may be combined with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to target tumor cells and may be administered through an arm vein.
Treatment for glioblastomas depends on the location and extent of the tumor. The doctor may recommend surgery or radiation therapy if it is located in the brain. Surgery can remove a large portion of solid tumor tissue, which reduces intracranial pressure.
Survival Rate
The survival rate when you have glioblastomas is not very good, but there are some factors you can do to improve your chances of surviving it. First, the earlier you get diagnosed with the disease, the better the chance of survival. Although most people die within five years, the survivorship rate is much higher for younger patients.
It is vital to get the correct diagnosis from a neurologist. Depending on your symptoms, this doctor will order tests like MRI and CT scans. While doctors do not group glioblastomas according to stages, they grade all brain cancers on a scale of one to four. Glioblastomas are considered a grade four brain cancer, which means they’re incredibly aggressive.
Glioblastoma patients with favorable genetics have higher survival rates. Several factors are associated with more prolonged survival, including being younger, having a good functional status, and the tumor’s genetic makeup. Researchers are currently working to develop new treatments for glioblastoma, including gene therapy and anti-tumor antibodies.
One breakthrough that could improve the survival rate is chemotherapy and radiation. A landmark study in the last two decades found that chemotherapy and radiotherapy alone reduced survival by one month, while combined therapy improved it by ten months. The two-year survival rate in this study was 8% for patients receiving only radiotherapy and 20% for patients who underwent combination therapy. The findings are consistent with earlier meta-analyses and should improve patients’ quality of life with glioblastoma.
