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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