Question 1

is glioblastoma hereditary?

Accepted Answer

Rarely: Glioblastoma can rarely occur as an inherited cancer in patients with certain familial cancer syndromes such as li fraumeni syndrome, turcot syndrome, neurofibromatosis or familial glioma syndrome. Family members may have increased risk of glioblastoma due to environmental factors also.

Question 2

my dad has glioblastoma, what happens?

Accepted Answer

Treatment: These are typically treated aggressively surgery (if operable) followed by a  combination of chemotherapy (temodar) and radiation, followed by more chemotherapy.   Unfortunately these tumors have very bad prognoses.

Question 3

what does the grade of a glioblastoma tumor indicate?

Accepted Answer

Classification: The 2007 world health organization scheme is the most widely accepted approach to classifying gliomas.  Malignant or high-grade gliomas are either grade iii or grade iv.  Glioblastoma (gbm) is defined as grade IV in this system.

Question 4

how effective is radiosurgery for treating glioblastoma?

Accepted Answer

Depends: This is difficult to answer. Glioblastoma is a very malignant tumor and very difficult to treat. The smaller the tumor the better the chances of "success " in treating the tumor with radiotherapy. Surgery also an option if again it is a small lesion. Unfortunately often times diagnosed at a late stage.

Question 5

where in the body does glioblastoma develop?

Accepted Answer

The brain.: Glioblastoma multiforme is the term for a very aggressive tumor that arises in the brain.  It is usually treated by a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and cheomtherapy.  Unfortunately, these tumors are very aggressive, and although treatment can slow their growth, they invariably recur.  They are most commonly found in middle aged adults.

Question 6

why are glioblastomas so common and is there anything a person can do to reduce the chance of getting one ?

Accepted Answer

Uncommon cancer: You have misunderstood something you read. Glioblastomas are relatively uncommon cancers, with about 12,000 new cases each year in the entire US. Not exactly rare, but that's 20 times and 15 times less common than breast cancer and prostate cancer, respectively. Most other cancers also are more common than glio. There is no known prevention against glioblastoma, so good thing it's pretty rare!

Question 7

whats glioblastoma multiforme?

Accepted Answer

Brain tumor: This is an aggressive brain tumor that is frequently fatal. Treatment has improved over the past 5 years or so, and includes surgery radiation and chemotherapy. However, despite improvements in treatment, it remains a very difficult cancer to cure.

Question 8

is it possible to resect a glioblastoma multiforme?

Accepted Answer

Yes and no: If it is in an area that can be resected, the neurosurgeon tries to remove as much as safely possible.  However, this tumor unlike others usually is difficult to completely resect.  So the goal is to remove as much as possible.  Radiation and chemotherapy are standard after surgery.  The goal of treatment is to delay the time of recurrence.  Hope this helps.

Question 9

what is the difference between glioblastoma and glioma?

Accepted Answer

GBM is agressive: Glioblastoma is a malignant tumor of the brain. It often invasive and agressive form of brain tumor whereas glioma is often a benign primary brain tumor. Glioblastoma has the tedency to spread locally or to other part of the brain. Treatment of glioblastoma includes combination of surgery, radiatoin with or without chemotherapy. Gliomas usually do not spread and are treated by resection alone.

Question 10

is it possible to completely resect a glioblastoma multiforme?

Accepted Answer

Gbm: Yes but location and neurological compromise in most cases didn't allow that.

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What does the grade of a glioblastoma tumor indicate?

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How effective is radiosurgery for treating glioblastoma?

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Where in the body does glioblastoma develop?

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Why are glioblastomas so common and is there anything a person can do to reduce the chance of getting one ?

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Whats glioblastoma multiforme?

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Is it possible to resect a glioblastoma multiforme?

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What is the difference between glioblastoma and glioma?

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Is it possible to completely resect a glioblastoma multiforme?

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