The term “glioma” refers to a brain tumor that springs from the glial, or the supportive cell of the brain or the spinal cord. There are three types of gliomas that include astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and ependymomas. A brain tumor may or may not be malignant or cancerous in nature. These types of tumors are usually confined to the brain and do not spread in other parts of the body. However, the brain of a patient suffering from metastatic cancer can also be affected. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and also the most malignant of the primary brain tumors.

Till date, the doctors have not been able to establish a definitive cause of glioma. However, people who are exposed to certain types of chemicals in the factories (like vinyl chloride and, acrylonitrile), or belong to a certain race are more prone to glioma. Men are more prone than women.

Symptoms of Glioma

The symptoms of a brain tumor can range from a headache to a stroke; there can be a variety of symptoms. The brain controls various functions and the position of the tumor will determine the symptoms. Some of the common symptoms include:

• Headache in the morning
• Headache that seems to abate after vomiting
• Headache along with gradual loss of vision or double vision
• Nausea and vomiting
• Vision, speech and speech problems
• Seizers
• Inability to move an arm or leg
• Loss of sensation in a limb
• Loss of balance or difficulty in walking
• Unusual changes in the behavior or personality
• Unusual change in the sleep pattern and the activity level

Diagnosis of Glioma

The diagnosis of glioma usually involves

• A physical examination of the patient. This can include questions relating to the symptoms and a medical history of the patient.
• Neurological examination of the patient that involves testing the ability of the patient to see, hear, balance, respond to stimuli, and also ability to think and remember.
• Performing an MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) and CT scan of the brain
• Angiogram- A dye is injected into the arteries of the brain. This makes them discernible on an X-ray.
• Biopsy- In this procedure, a small of the tumor is removed for examination under a microscope. It involves surgery and can be performed by the surgeon prior to the surgery. The sample is examined by a pathologist.

Glioma Chemotherapy

After a person is diagnosed with glioma, his or her first reaction is that of shock and wants to take a second opinion to confirm the disease.

For a low grade astrocytoma, the most common treatment is surgery. The surgeon first removes the tumor from the affected area and then treats the patient with radiation and chemotherapy.

For a high grade glioma that includes grade two and grade three brain tumors, the main aim of the treatment involves controlling the tumor for as long as possible and prolong the life of the patient to the maximum. The surgeon removes or tries to remove as much tumor as possible, and then treats the patient with radiation and chemotherapy. Various kinds of drugs are used to curb the growth of high grade gliomas. A specialist can decide the dosage of these drugs and also if chemotherapy should be administered before or after radiation. A lot of research has been done on the timing of the chemotherapy treatment. Some specialists give chemotherapy immediately after radiation but many do not give this treatment till the time the glioma starts to show signs of growth. The specialists make this decision on the basis of the condition of the patient.

Although the toxicity of the drugs used for chemotherapy has decreased over the years, there are still many side effects of chemotherapy. These side effects are usually temporary and may vary from one person to another. The most common side effect of chemotherapy is that these drugs have a negative impact on the cells of the bone marrow of the gastrointestinal tract. Another harm caused to chemotherapy patients is that they might become infertile. Chemotherapy infertility may or may not be a permanent phenomenon, depending on various factors.

There are various drugs used for chemotherapy these days. Some of them are: Avastin, Afinitor, Bevacizumab, Temador, Methazolastone and Temozolomide.

After the treatment is completed, a patient enters the observation phase and is asked to visit the neuro-oncologist after a gap of every two to four months. These visits are made in order to review the symptoms, physical conditions and the medications of the patient. An MRI scan is also carried out. Life after chemotherapy may come back to normal, only you have to follow the instructions given by your physician.

These days, scientists are investigating whether cell phones can cause glioma. Although a lot of research has been done in this field, the scientists have not been able to come to a definitive conclusion. It is not necessary that if some people have an increased risk of having glioma will have it some time in their life. However, we do need to be aware of ways to reduce the risk of having a cancer and incorporate such preventive measures.