Glioblastoma – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain or spinal cord cancer that starts in astrocytes, cells that support nerve function. This fast-growing cancer rapidly invades and destroys surrounding healthy tissue.
Though glioblastoma can affect people of any age, it occurs more frequently in older adults.
Common symptoms include:
- Progressively worsening headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vision problems (blurred or double vision)
- Speech difficulties
- Changes in sense of touch
- Seizures
- Balance and coordination issues
- Facial or bodily movement problems
Currently, there is no cure for glioblastoma. Treatment options focus on slowing cancer growth and managing symptoms to improve quality of life.
Symptoms
Glioblastoma may cause several signs that affect brain function. These can include:
- Morning headaches that feel worse when you wake up
- Feeling sick to your stomach and throwing up
- Trouble thinking clearly or understanding information
- Problems remembering things
- Changes in how you act or feel more irritable
- Vision problems (blurry sight, seeing double, or losing side vision)
- Difficulty speaking
- Problems with balance or coordination
- Weakness in facial muscles, arms, or legs
- Less ability to feel touch
- Seizures, especially if you’ve never had them before
When You Should Talk to a Doctor
If you notice any of these symptoms or other changes that worry you, make an appointment with a healthcare provider right away. Early detection can help with treatment options.
Causes
Scientists don’t know why most glioblastomas form. These tumors begin when cells in the brain or spinal cord experience DNA changes. DNA contains instructions that control how cells behave.
In healthy cells, DNA directs normal growth and tells cells when to die. But when DNA changes occur, cells receive different instructions.
These altered cells multiply rapidly and don’t die when they should. This leads to an excess of abnormal cells.
The abnormal cells cluster together to form a tumor. As this tumor grows, it can:
- Press against nearby nerves
- Put pressure on brain or spinal cord tissue
- Invade and destroy healthy tissue
These effects explain why people with glioblastoma experience symptoms. The tumor’s growth pattern and location determine which symptoms appear.
DNA changes that cause glioblastoma happen for unknown reasons in most cases. Research continues to explore what triggers these cellular changes and why some people develop this type of brain cancer while others don’t.
Risk Factors
Several factors may increase a person’s chance of developing glioblastoma:
Age
Older adults face the highest risk of glioblastoma. However, this brain cancer can affect people at any age, including children and young adults.
Radiation Exposure
People who have been exposed to ionizing radiation show an increased risk. This includes individuals who received radiation therapy as treatment for other cancers.
Genetic Factors
Some inherited conditions can raise glioblastoma risk. These include:
| Genetic Syndrome | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Lynch Syndrome | Increases risk of several cancer types, including brain tumors |
| Li-Fraumeni Syndrome | Rare disorder causing higher cancer risk at young ages |
Genetic testing can identify these syndromes in families with histories of multiple cancers.
Most glioblastoma cases occur randomly, with no clear cause. Current research has not found preventative measures that can reduce glioblastoma risk.
Some studies investigate whether environmental factors play a role in glioblastoma development. However, scientists have not established strong connections between lifestyle choices and this type of brain cancer.
If you have concerns about your personal risk factors, talk with a healthcare provider. They can assess your specific situation and recommend appropriate monitoring if needed.
For people with family histories of multiple cancers, especially at young ages, genetic counseling may provide valuable information about potential inherited risk. This counseling helps families understand their options for genetic testing and medical management.
Unlike some other cancers, glioblastoma does not appear to be linked to common risk factors such as smoking, diet, or physical activity levels.
