How to Cure Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an advanced, fast-growing brain tumor, typically seen in adults over 50 year of age, accounts for 60 percent of brain tumors. The American Brain Tumor Association reports this as the most deadly and aggressive of brain cancers. No cure exists for glioblastoma multiforme. Glioblastoma multiforme has a low survival rate, and treatment consists of a combination of surgery, then radiation followed by chemotherapy and experimental treatments made available through clinical trials. 

1. Realize your body’s symptoms and changes that may indicate the presence of GBM. Commonly seen early symptoms include paralysis on one side of the body, changes in vision, nausea, sudden memory loss, headaches and seizures. Report these early symptoms to your doctor, and he will order a brain scan, an MRI or a CT. The usual follow-up on the detection of any abnormality or lesion results in a neurosurgeon’s biopsy of the tumor to verify its malignancy. Symptoms exhibited during the early stages, if diagnosed immediately, can result in a better prognosis


2. Undergo surgery to remove the primary tumor following the biopsy and diagnosis with a brain tumor. Typically a neurosurgeon performs surgery as soon as possible to remove as much of the tumor as possible. GBM cells spread very fast to surrounding brain tissues, so despite the successful removal of the primary tumor, removal of all the growing tumor will not occur. To destroy these additional tumor cells, radiation and chemotherapy will quickly follow the surgery.


3. Attend radiation sessions for up to four weeks following surgery. The process involves the use of external beam radiation by radio-oncologists (radiation specialists dealing with cancers), who radiate the primary tumor location with focused, specified quantities of radiation. Often experienced short-term side effects of radiation treatment include hair loss and fatigue. The radiation treatment plan may include visits five times a week over a period of a month or more, at the most. Other plans may require fewer visits. 


4. Attend chemotherapy sessions immediately following completion of radiation or after a few weeks, if found necessary. Neuro-oncologists manage the chemotherapy sessions that attempt to kill off the tumor cells and prevent further growth. Your oncologist will devise the plan of medications used and the period of treatment.


5. Treat the glioblastoma multiforme disease as mentioned for management of the symptoms and a better quality of life only. There is not yet a cure for glioblastoma multiforme.