Living with Glioblastoma
A cancerous brain tumor that grows from star-shaped support cells and can cause headaches, nausea, and other symptoms.
Understanding Glioblastoma
Astrocytes help support and nourish nerve cells. Glioblastomas are often very aggressive and grow into nearby brain tissue. Symptoms may start when the tumor puts extra pressure on the brain, and other features depend on the size and location of the tumor. It can occur at any time in life.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Headache
- Nausea, vomiting, or drowsiness
- Muscle weakness or paralysis
- Vision loss
- Language problems
- Swelling of the brain
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists and cancer specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Cancer specialists (oncologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
In most cases GARD says the exact cause is unknown. Rarely it occurs in people with genetic syndromes such as neurofibromatosis type 1, Turcot syndrome, and Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
Also known as: gbm; gbm (glioblastoma); giant cell glioblastoma (histologic variant); glioblastoma (disease); glioblastoma multiforme; glioblastoma multiforme (disease)
Patient organizations
- Alex's Lemonade Stand FoundationGlioblastoma · United States
- American Cancer SocietyGlioblastoma · United States
- CancerCareGlioblastoma · United States
- Children's Brain Tumor FoundationGlioblastoma · United States
- Glioblastoma FoundationGlioblastoma · United States
- National Brain Tumor SocietyGlioblastoma · United States
- Pediatric Brain Tumor FoundationGlioblastoma · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Glioblastoma.
Explore research for Glioblastoma
Explore actively recruiting Glioblastoma studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Glioblastoma with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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