Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive brain tumor that originates from glial cells. It is a type of cancer that is difficult to treat due to its location and ability to quickly spread throughout the brain. Glioblastomas are usually diagnosed in adults over the age of 50 and account for about 15% of all brain tumors. The average survival time after diagnosis is 12-15 months. However, with treatment, some people can survive for two years or more. There are four main types of treatment for GBM: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Surgery is the most common treatment for GBM. The goal of surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible while preserving normal brain tissue. This can be a challenge because GBMs often have finger-like tentacles that make them difficult to remove completely. In addition, surgeons must be careful not to damage healthy brain tissue during surgery. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells. It can be used before or after surgery to help shrink the tumor and kill any remaining cancer cells. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells; it can be given intravenously (through a vein) or orally (by mouth). Chemotherapy may be used before or after surgery and/or radiation therapy. Targeted therapy uses drugs that target specific genes or proteins involved in tumor growth; this type of therapy is still being studied in clinical trials for GBM patients.
The standard treatment for GBM includes all four types of treatment: surgery followed by radiation therapy with concurrent temozolomide chemotherapy, then maintenance temozolomide chemotherapy alone after completion of radiation therapy . Newer treatments are also being studied in clinical trials, such as immunotherapy and proton beam radiation therapy . Clinical trials are important because they allow doctors to test new treatments and find out which ones work best . Patients who participate in clinical trials also have access to the latest treatments available .
If you have been diagnosed with GBM, talk with your doctor about all your treatment options , including clinical trials . You can also learn more about GBM by visiting www