About Glioblastoma (GBM)
About:
Glioblastoma, known as GBM, are aggressive malignant brain tumors. GBM is a cancerous tumor in which tumor cells are fed and nourished by a large amount of tumor blood vessel supply. These abnormal vessels contribute to the quick growth and division of an unusually large amount of tumor cells. This causes glioblastoma to be mostly made up of abnormal cells as well as a mix of different cell types which make these tumors tricky to treat; one cell may react to treatment, where another may not. Glioblastomas like to spread out, like the tentacles of an octopus infiltrating nearby regions of the brain and can even spread through these 'tentacles' to opposite sides of the brain.
Kurt's tumor is a Grade IV tumor. Often times these grades of tumors start off as slow growers, but become more aggressive over time. In just a little more than year, Kurt's tumor grew to be about five centimeters.
Location:
Glioblastomas are usually found in the left and right cerebellum, or cerebral hemispheres of the brain, though due to their nature can grow anywhere in the brain.
Kurt's tumor was located in the parietal lobe. This is a part of the brain that is responsible for receiving sensory-motor information. The tumor was located to the right of his brain, which was a concern, as it controlled handedness for the opposite part of the body. (Kurt is left-handed). We were delighted that his motor skills remained intact, however there is a chance that with regrowth there may be more concerns. (Tumors will grow back in the same location and also spread to other locations). There is also a small tumor (or part of the tumor) that was left in his brain. It was located in too much of an important spot for invasive surgery.
Symptoms:
Because of rapid growth, patients with GBM's present with symptoms quickly. The tumor and its pressure causes swelling that may lead to headaches, nausea, weakness, numbness, imbalance, seizures and cognitive challenges.
Kurt was affected by severe headaches, occasional numbness and eventually suffered a seizure.
Treatment:
As mentioned earlier, glioblastoma are difficult to treat because some cells might respond well to certain treatments, while other cells might not respond to any treatment. Due to the nature of the tumor, treatment plans for glioblastoma vary and there are often treatment trials to choose from for eligible particiants.
Kurt had the large part of his tumor removed. Plans for next steps include six weeks of radiation simultaneous to chemotherapy, followed by a break and then temozolomide chemotherapy. We are considering a trial that involves Optune which, according to the manufacturer, "creates low-intensity, wave-like electric fields call Tumor Treating Fields, or TTFields. These TTFields are delivered by transducer arrays to the location of a GBM tumor. TTFields interfere with GBM tumor cell division. This action slows or stops GBM cells from dividing, and may destroy them."
www.optune.com/
We are still making decisions on our course of action. For more information about brain tumors, visit the link below.
Glioblastoma, known as GBM, are aggressive malignant brain tumors. GBM is a cancerous tumor in which tumor cells are fed and nourished by a large amount of tumor blood vessel supply. These abnormal vessels contribute to the quick growth and division of an unusually large amount of tumor cells. This causes glioblastoma to be mostly made up of abnormal cells as well as a mix of different cell types which make these tumors tricky to treat; one cell may react to treatment, where another may not. Glioblastomas like to spread out, like the tentacles of an octopus infiltrating nearby regions of the brain and can even spread through these 'tentacles' to opposite sides of the brain.
Kurt's tumor is a Grade IV tumor. Often times these grades of tumors start off as slow growers, but become more aggressive over time. In just a little more than year, Kurt's tumor grew to be about five centimeters.
Location:
Glioblastomas are usually found in the left and right cerebellum, or cerebral hemispheres of the brain, though due to their nature can grow anywhere in the brain.
Kurt's tumor was located in the parietal lobe. This is a part of the brain that is responsible for receiving sensory-motor information. The tumor was located to the right of his brain, which was a concern, as it controlled handedness for the opposite part of the body. (Kurt is left-handed). We were delighted that his motor skills remained intact, however there is a chance that with regrowth there may be more concerns. (Tumors will grow back in the same location and also spread to other locations). There is also a small tumor (or part of the tumor) that was left in his brain. It was located in too much of an important spot for invasive surgery.
Symptoms:
Because of rapid growth, patients with GBM's present with symptoms quickly. The tumor and its pressure causes swelling that may lead to headaches, nausea, weakness, numbness, imbalance, seizures and cognitive challenges.
Kurt was affected by severe headaches, occasional numbness and eventually suffered a seizure.
Treatment:
As mentioned earlier, glioblastoma are difficult to treat because some cells might respond well to certain treatments, while other cells might not respond to any treatment. Due to the nature of the tumor, treatment plans for glioblastoma vary and there are often treatment trials to choose from for eligible particiants.
Kurt had the large part of his tumor removed. Plans for next steps include six weeks of radiation simultaneous to chemotherapy, followed by a break and then temozolomide chemotherapy. We are considering a trial that involves Optune which, according to the manufacturer, "creates low-intensity, wave-like electric fields call Tumor Treating Fields, or TTFields. These TTFields are delivered by transducer arrays to the location of a GBM tumor. TTFields interfere with GBM tumor cell division. This action slows or stops GBM cells from dividing, and may destroy them."
www.optune.com/
We are still making decisions on our course of action. For more information about brain tumors, visit the link below.