What is glioblastoma and what are the main symptoms to look out for?

THERE are dozens of forms of brain tumour, with glioblastoma being the most common in adults.

It’s an aggressive and fast-growing tumour with a staggeringly short life expectancy.

Glioblastomas are grade 4 brain tumours – and are sometimes called glioblastoma multiforme.

More than 2,000 cases are diagnosed every year.

Some people may live for only a few months after their diagnosis, while others can live for five years, sometimes more in extremely rare cases.

Knowing the symptoms of the disease may help get an earlier diagnosis.

What is glioblastoma?

Glioblastoma is the most common high grade cancerous primary brain tumour in adults.

The cancer begins in the brain and almost never spreads to other parts of the body. However, it’s complexity makes it difficult to treat.

It is also resistant to treatment, as the cells within the tumour are not all of the same type.

There are no known causes of glioblastoma, as is the case with most brain tumours, therefore, there is no clear way to prevent the disease.

The first line of treatment is surgery to try and cut the tumour out. However, because glioblastomas “diffuse”, meaning they invade healthy cells around them, it’s very difficult to remove the tumour without harming healthy parts of the brain.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be helpful to stop the tumour cells growing and spreading. But despite the high intensity of the treatment, the cancer usually recurs.

What are the symptoms of glioblastoma?

The symptoms can initially be quite non-specific. The brain controls so many different functions that the symptoms someone experiences will depend partly on where the tumour is.

People may confuse their symptoms for various other problems, such as stress or even a hangover.

The symptoms can get worse very quickly, sometimes progressing to unconsciousness.

Brain Tumour Research says tumours increase pressure in the skull, causing headaches.

Other symptoms to look for are:

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of balance
• Mood swings
• Problems speaking
• Problems with memory or concentration
• Seizures
• Impaired vision

What is the life expectancy of someone with glioblastoma?

For most people diagnosed with glioblastoma the life expectancy is between 12 -15 months.

Those who decide not to have treatment are expected to live for around three months.

A quarter of glioblastoma patients survive more than one year and five per cent of patients survive more than five years

“Less than one per cent of all patients with a glioblastoma live for more than ten years, so in the majority of cases, it is fatal,” says Brain Tumour Research.

Which celebrities have had a glioblastoma?

In March 2022, The Wanted band member Tom Parker died of a glioblastoma at the age of 33.

The star was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in 2020 and given just 18 months to live.

The former minister for public health and culture secretary Tessa Jowell also died in May 2018 of a glioblastoma.

She was diagnosed one year prior, and went public about the cancer on her birthday in September 2017.

The brave mum said she was “not afraid” and wanted to raise awareness about the realities of the cancer.

For more information, visit Brain Tumour Research.