Symptoms Of Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is a cancer that can occur in the brain, and less frequently in the spinal cord. It can be difficult to treat, and often will spread very aggressively. Glioblastoma comes with a variety of symptoms, including dull or throbbing pain in the head, seizure, loss of memory, behavioral and personality shifts, and overall neurological deficits caused by swelling and decreasing the functionality of the brain. If any of these symptoms occur in a patient, a doctor may test their motor skills and their ability to hear or see. Failing these tests may give clues about the disease, and following an MRI, CT scan, and possibly a biopsy, glioblastoma can be diagnosed. Even though the disease is very aggressive, it can and has been defeated using surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and medication.

Headaches

Chronic headache pain is a common symptom among individuals suffering from glioblastoma, and unfortunately, this symptom can often be ignored and attributed to something other than a tumor. In studies, patients have often reported headache pain caused by glioblastoma is not very intense and not felt in any specific part of the brain or head. This type of headache is common in individuals who do not have glioblastoma and are often ignored. It is vital for individuals, especially those over forty, to treat these headaches with caution when they last more than a few days. Headaches in glioblastoma patients can also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, with these symptoms being worse in the morning than the rest of the day. If a person is experiencing a persistent headache along with other symptoms, it is important to see a doctor.

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Seizures

When a tumor forms in certain areas of the brain a patient may experience seizures. These come in many different forms and intensities, ranging from small seizures in one part of the body to more intense ones that affect the whole body and cause a loss of consciousness. Research has found seizing occurs in forty to fifty percent of patients suffering from glioblastoma. Though experiencing seizure can be debilitating, it provides a good indication of the presence of a brain tumor, which often leads to early treatment, improving a patient’s chance of survival. The least intense seizure caused by glioblastoma is a partial seizure, which often lasts less than a minute and is accompanied by muscle spasms, sweating, nausea, and feelings of anxiety or fear. Many individuals may not even take this kind of seizure as seriously as they should, as even the least intense seizing can be an indication of glioblastoma. The most intense kind of seizure has similar symptoms, though it can last longer and is almost always accompanied by a loss of consciousness.

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Memory Loss

Glioblastoma comes with a host of neurological or cognitive deficits, one of these being the loss of memory. Though they don’t occur in all patients, memory problems are severe and can come in different forms. Loss of memory caused by glioblastoma can affect a patient’s ability to store, keep, or retrieve memories. The prevalence and type of memory loss depend almost entirely on the location and size of the tumor in the brain, though certain kinds of treatment can temporarily worsen the loss of memory as the brain swells during the healing process. Because memory loss caused by glioblastoma is affected by the part of the brain in which the tumor forms, it is important to note the kinds of memories a patient is losing. For instance, a tumor in the occipital lobe, a portion of the brain involved in processing sight, may cause a loss of visual memories and images, but not a loss of memories related to hearing.

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Behavioral And Personality Shifts

The symptoms of glioblastoma that very negatively affects patients and their loved ones are behavioral and personality shifts. These changes are often negative and can be caused by changes in the brain or formed as a reaction to other symptoms, such as pain and stress. Changes in personality can be profound, especially when caused directly by the tumor rather than other symptoms. This is most common when the tumor forms in the frontal lobe of the brain, which controls an individual’s personality. Pituitary tumors can also affect personality and behavior, as this section of the brain regulates hormones that can create a wide array of effects on a person’s mood and body function. Because it is difficult to understand these changes in another person, it is important for loved ones and caregivers to be understanding and patient when treating or living with people who suffer from glioblastoma.

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Neurological Deficits

In addition to the symptoms outlined above, glioblastoma can come with a wide range of other symptoms including many neurological deficits, or problems with brain function. These problems often manifest in the form of motor skill deficiencies, which doctors will initially test when they suspect a brain tumor may be present. In an estimated forty to sixty percent of patients, glioblastoma will cause difficulty balancing, controlling muscles, speech problems, difficulty walking, numbed sense, blurred vision, or a loss of appetite. These symptoms are widespread and occur depending on the location of the tumor. For example, a patient suffering from glioblastoma may have vision difficulties yet still maintain perfect balance depending on the tumor's location in the brain. Because of the range and independence of these symptoms, they must all be taken seriously.