Prior to my diagnosis I knew next to nothing about Brain Tumours, and had never heard of a glioblastoma, since then I have learned a lot!
What Is a Brain Tumour?
A brain tumour is an abnormal growth of cells within the brain or central nervous system. Tumours can be primary (starting in the brain) or secondary (spread from another cancer elsewhere in the body).
Brain tumours are often described as either benign or malignant, but this distinction is slightly different from other cancers. Even benign tumours can cause serious symptoms because the brain is contained within the skull and has limited space.
In the UK, brain tumours make up roughly 3% of all cancer diagnoses, but they can affect people of any age.
How Brain Tumours Are Graded
Brain tumours are graded using a system developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The grade reflects how abnormal the cells look under a microscope and how aggressively they are likely to behave.
- Grade 1: Slow growing, often considered low risk
- Grade 2: Relatively slow growing but may return
- Grade 3: Malignant and faster growing
- Grade 4: Highly aggressive and rapidly growing
Gliomas are a group of tumours that arise from glial cells, which support nerve cells in the brain. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of glioma and is classified as Grade 4.
What Is a Glioblastoma?
Glioblastoma (often shortened to GBM) is a fast-growing type of primary brain tumour that develops from astrocytes, a type of glial cell.
Key features include:
- Rapid growth and infiltration into surrounding brain tissue
- A tendency to recur after treatment
- Complex genetic and molecular characteristics
Because of its aggressive nature, glioblastoma is treated urgently and usually involves a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
How Common Is Glioblastoma in the UK?
- Around 12,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour each year in the UK
- Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumour in adults
- It accounts for roughly 15% of all brain tumours and about 45–50% of malignant brain tumours
- It occurs most frequently in adults over 50, but can affect younger people too
Although brain tumours are relatively uncommon compared with other cancers, glioblastoma is one of the more frequently diagnosed aggressive brain tumours.
Survival Statistics (UK Context)
Survival statistics describe large groups of people and cannot predict what will happen for any individual, so whilst the below statistics look pretty grim I know I have a few things going in my favour that will hopefully allow me to exceed them!
Typical figures often quoted:
- Median survival is around 12–18 months with standard treatment
- Around 25% of patients live beyond two years
- Approximately 5–7% live five years or longer
Outcomes vary widely depending on:
- Age and general health
- Extent of surgical removal
- Molecular features of the tumour
- Response to treatment
A small group of people become long-term survivors, and ongoing research is improving understanding of why.
How Is Glioblastoma Diagnosed?
Diagnosis usually involves several steps:
- Brain imaging – MRI scans identify suspicious areas
- Surgery or biopsy – tumour tissue is obtained
- Laboratory analysis – including genetic and molecular testing (e.g. MGMT methylation, IDH status)
These tests help guide treatment decisions and provide more personalised information about prognosis.
A Final Note
Every glioblastoma is unique. Statistics describe trends across populations but do not define an individual’s journey. Treatments continue to evolve, and many people pursue additional therapies, clinical trials, and supportive care alongside standard treatment.
What Gives Me an Advantage (hopefully!)
- I am young and healthy in comparison to most people who get a glioblastoma.
- I had a good surgery where they removed nearly all of the tumour.
- I have tolerated all the treatment very well so far.
- My tumour has good methylation levels. Methylation is determined during a biopsy and is a way of measuring how likely the tumour is to respond well to chemotherapy. Around 50% of glioblastomas are not methylated at all, whereas my tumour is highly methylated at 53%.
- The biopsy of my tumour revealed it is lacking some of the more aggresive mutations commonly associated with glioblastomas.