What is Glioblastoma?

About Glioblastoma:

• It is a type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord.
• Like all cancers, glioblastoma is caused by DNA mutations that result in uncontrolled cell growth. The underlying causes for these genetic cell mutations are largely unknown. 
• Glioblastoma forms from cells called astrocytes that support nerve cells.
  • Astrocytes help give your brain the nutrients it needs. 
• Glioblastoma tumors make their own blood supply, which helps them grow. It's easy for them to invade normal brain tissue.
• It grows quickly and can invade and destroy healthy tissue.
• It can happen at any age. However, it tends to happen more often in older adults.
• It accounts for almost half of all cancerous brain tumors in adults.
• Symptoms:
  • Glioblastoma symptoms may include headaches that keep getting worse, nausea and vomiting, blurred or double vision, trouble speaking, altered sense of touch, and seizures.
  • There also may be trouble with balance, coordination, and moving parts of the face or body.
• Treatment:
  • There's no cure for glioblastoma. Treatments might slow cancer growth and reduce symptoms.
  • The main treatments for glioblastomas are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.