Polymorphic glioblastoma is a type of brain cancer, in the gliomas group, because it affects a specific group of cells called “glial cells”, which contribute to brain composition and neuronal function. It is a rare type of cancer and, in most cases, is sporadic, being more common in people who have already been exposed to ionizing radiation.
It is a type of aggressive tumor, classified as grade IV, because it has a great ability to infiltrate and grow along brain tissue, and can cause symptoms such as headaches, vomiting or seizures, for example.
- Treatment involves total removal of the tumor at the same time as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
- However.
- Due to its aggressiveness and rapid growth.
- It is difficult to cure this cancer.
- Which has an average survival of 14 months.
- Which is not a rule and varies depending on the severity.
- Size and location of the tumor.
- In addition to the patient’s clinical conditions.
It is important to remember that medicine has made increasing progress in finding treatments both to increase survival and to improve the quality of life of people with this cancer.
Although rare, glioblastoma multiforme is the most common cause of brain malignancies and is more common in people over the age of 45. Symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on the location and size of your brain, and some of the most common include:
As the disease reaches more advanced or terminal stages, symptoms can intensify and compromise the ability to perform daily activities and care.
In the presence of symptoms that indicate this cancer, your doctor may order brain imaging tests, such as MRI images, that will visualize the tumor, however, confirmation is only done after a biopsy and analysis of a small portion of tumor tissue.
Treatment of polymorphic glioblastoma should be carried out as soon as possible after diagnosis, with follow-up by the oncologist and neurologist, and is carried out with:
In addition, the use of medications such as corticosteroids or anticonvulsants may be used to relieve some symptoms of the disease.
Being a very aggressive tumor, treatment is complex and most of the time there is relapse, which hinders the chances of recovery, so treatment decisions must be individualized for each case, taking into account the clinical condition or existence of a history of treatments, and the quality of life of the patient should always be prioritized.
It is also important to remember that new drugs have been sought to improve the effectiveness of glioblastoma treatment, such as gene therapy, immunotherapy and molecular therapies, in order to better achieve the tumor and facilitate healing.