Glioblastoma is a malignant tumor that affects the brain and/or spinal cord, causing symptoms such as headache, vomiting or seizures.
Although rare, this type of cancer is the most common cause of malignant brain brain tumors, and is most frequent in people over 45, having a great ability to infiltrate and grow along brain tissue.
Glioblastoma treatment is done by the oncologist or neuro-oncologist and usually involves surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy or target therapy, for example.
Glioblastoma symptoms
The main symptoms of glioblastoma are:
- Headache;
- Loss of force or change of walking;
- Visual or speech changes;
- Cognitive difficulties such as reasoning or attention;
- Personality changes, such as apathy or social avoidance;
- Vomiting;
- Crises convulsivas.
Glioblastoma symptoms range from light to intense, depending on their location in the brain and size.
As the disease reaches more advanced, or terminal phases, symptoms can intensify and compromise the ability to perform activities and daily care.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of glioblastoma is made by the neurologist or general practitioner through the evaluation of symptoms, health history and neurological, image and laboratory tests.
Make an appointment with the neurologist in the region closest to you:
Thus, exams can be requested, such as magnetic resonance imaging, which allow you to view the tumor, its size and location. However, the definitive diagnosis is made through tumor biopsy.
When the diagnosis is confirmed, the person is sent to the oncologist or neuro-oncologist to start treatment.
Grau do glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is classified as grade IV as it grows rapidly, being a tumor considered aggressive as it has the ability to infiltrate and spread along the cerebral tissue.
This type of tumor, most of the time, arises in brain tissue itself, but can also be caused by the transformation of grade II or III astrocytoma tumors, for example.
Possible causes
Glioblastoma is caused by prior exposure to ionizing radiation, leading to the “glia cells”, which help in the composition of the brain and the functions of neurons, to multiply uncontrollably.
This type of cerebral cancer of the glioma group is a type of aggressive tumor and can spread through brain tissues.
How treatment is done
Glioblastoma treatment should be done with oncologist or neuro-oncologist orientation, which began as early as possible after diagnosis.
The main treatments for glioblastoma are:
1. Surgery
Glioblastoma surgery consists of removing the entire visible tumor in the image exam, avoiding leaving compromised tissues.
Generally, surgery is the first stage of treatment.
2. Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is done with radiation emission as an attempt to eliminate remaining tumor cells in the brain after surgery.
Also read: Radiotherapy: what it is, what it is for and side effects
tuasaude.com/radioterapia
3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is done in conjunction with radiotherapy, improving its effectiveness.
The most commonly used glioblastoma chemotherapy is femozolomide, which is able to delay the progression of the disease. Check out what they are and how to deal with the side effects of chemotherapy.
In addition, it is important to emphasize that there have been new remedies to improve the efficacy of glioblastoma treatment, such as gene therapy, immunotherapy and molecular therapies, in order to better reach tumor and facilitate recovery.
4. Support therapy
Support therapy is done with the use of medicines, such as corticosteroids or anticonvulsants, to relieve some symptoms of the disease.
Decisions on the treatment of glioblastoma should be individualized, taking into account the clinical picture or the existence of previous treatments, and the quality of life should always be prioritized.
Glioblastoma of these Cura?
Due to its aggressiveness and speed of growth, it is unlikely to be a cure of this cancer, and most of the time there is recurrence, that is, the tumor appears again, which makes the chances of healing difficult.
Is it possible to survive the glioblastoma?
Glioblastoma has, on average, a 14 -month survival, which is not a rule and is variable according to the gravity, size and location of the tumor, as well as the clinical conditions of the person.
Source: www.tuasaude.com