Brain Cancer Awareness

Hey everyone! I wanted to write this blog because I want to bring awareness to brain cancer.  I don't have it, but I have friends and family who are suffering or have lost the battle from brain cancer.  

There are four different types of Glioma brain tumors, but I want to focus on the most severe type, which is a Grade IV Glioblastoma. 

Description:

Glioblastoma Multiforme is the most common and deadliest form of brain cancer.  It is classified as Grade IV astrocytoma, which is the most severe.  The cancer begins from star-shaped glial cells, called astrocytes.  The location of the cancer usually starts in the cerebral hemisphere, but it can develop in different parts of the brain, brain stem, or in the spinal chord.

Symptoms:
Symptoms vary because the tumor can be located in different parts of the brain and the different parts of the brain control different functions that can be impaired.

• Headache
• Loss of sensation in arms or legs
• Imbalance 
• Loss of vision or double vision
• Hearing loss
• Speech impairement

Diagnosis: 
After a brain scan (MRI, CT Scan, PET Scan) is completed, the doctor will classify the type of tumor based on its location.  

Characteristics:

• It can be made up of several different cell types.
• It can develop as a glioblastoma, or it can grow from a lower grade astrocytoma.
• It is the most common in older people, but it is more common in men than in women.

Treatment:

The initial treatment is surgery and then radiation and chemotherapy is administered.  If the tumor cannot be operated on, then radiation and chemotherapy will be administered to stop the growth of the tumor.

Prognosis:

The average survival rate is 12-15 months, however it depends on the individual.  There is no cure.

I got a lot of the information from The National Brain Tumor Society Website.