Glioblastoma is a malignant brain tumor that arises in astrocytes, causing cells to multiply out of control. Treatment is focused on palliative care, with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation used to prolong life. Patients should discuss end-of-life care and consider setting up a healthcare proxy.
A glioblastoma is a malignant brain tumor that is usually fatal, with treatment for this tumor focusing on palliative care rather than trying to cure the patient. This cancer is a type of astrocytoma, meaning it arises in brain cells known as astrocytes, and is the most common form of brain tumor. Fortunately, brain tumors in general are very rare, with about two percent of tumors occurring in the brain.
Like other astrocytomas, a glioblastoma begins to form when the genetic information in brain cells becomes damaged, causing the cells to multiply out of control. In the case of a glioblastoma, the growth consists of an area of necrosis surrounded by poorly differentiated astrocytes. The patient may experience symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, confusion, balance difficulties, vision problems and other neurological problems as the tumor grows.
Doctors can diagnose glioblastoma by using a medical imaging study to look at the brain and biopsy the growth to find out what it is. When a pathologist examines the biopsy sample, she can determine what types of cells are involved and how aggressive the cancer appears to be. Glioblastomas are also known as grade IV astrocytomas, referring to the type of cells in which the cancer originates and the fact that these tumors are very aggressive.
A glioblastoma does not usually metastasize to other areas of the body, making management of the tumor primarily focused on preventing it from growing and keeping the patient comfortable. Surgery may be recommended to remove as much of the tumor as possible, and chemotherapy and radiation can prolong the patient’s life and make him more comfortable. New treatments are constantly being developed for conditions such as glioblastoma, improving prognosis and extending lifespan.
Men are more likely to develop this cancer, and it usually occurs in people over the age of 50. There appear to be some genetic components to this cancer and it could also be linked to environmental radiation exposure. When diagnosed with glioblastoma, patients should ask their doctors for honest opinions about the prognosis and may want to talk about end-of-life care so they can make decisions about their care while still highly functional. It’s also vital to talk to loved ones about specific care and treatment wishes, and patients may want to consider setting up a healthcare proxy, someone who will make sure their wishes are carried out in case they are unable to communicate.
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