According to the National Cancer Institute, Glioblastoma make up roughly 15 percent of all brain tumors. The approximate age for getting this disease is between 45 and 70 years of age. Glioblastoma is also has one of the worst 5-year survival rates among all human cancers. Statistics say that annually 2 to 3 per 100,000 people in the United States and Europe are diagnosed with this awful cancer. Glioblastoma accounts for 12 to 15 percent of all intracranial tumors. The cancer itself is called Glioblastoma but each different tumor is called a Glioma. You will be able to answer these few questions after the reading.

There are many symptoms to this disease. Some of the symptoms are headache, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness. There are also different ones depending on where the tumor is located, weakness on one side of the body, memory and/or speech difficulties, and visual changes, confusion, loss of concentration, childlike mentality, language problems.

The diagnosis is a very long process. First the patient will be admitted to the hospital. Next, blood work and CT scans will be performed which may only take hour for results. After the results you may require an MRI scan to identify the primary source of the tumor. The MRI is looking for primary and secondary cancer. Primary tumors tend to form and make their presence known quickly and aggressively (figure 1). Secondary tumors have a longer, somewhat slower growth history, but are still very aggressive. Then, depending on the results you will schedule a biopsy of the brain. A brain biopsy is a very life threatening and time consuming process.

Next you will find out your prognosis. This is your “median” survival rate. Adults with more aggressive Glioblastoma treated with radiation therapy and medication have a median survival rate of 14.6 months. Radiation and chemo therapy may be utilized if surgery cannot be performed.  Despite research and best efforts there continues to be no cure for high grade Gliomas.

In conclusion, the most important role that we can play is quality of life rather than focusing on quantity of life. Quality of life is helping loved ones to achieve a peaceful death. This may be accomplished through medication, home care, and hospice care. Utilizing these resources would help control signs/ symptoms of the disease. You can use medication to prevent seizures, Hospice care will assist with pain management, and home care (family) will help with, nurturing, comfort and the reduction of anxiety.

Do you think every cancer is curable?

Can the pain of cancer be controlled?

What is the quality of life with and without treatment?