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Risk Factors

• Age: glioblastoma is most common in people aged 45 to 70. The average age at diagnosis is 64, though it can occur at any age.
• Gender: men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) have a slightly higher risk than women.
• Radiation exposure: exposure to ionizing radiation increases the risk of glioblastoma. This can include radiation therapy used to treat childhood brain tumors, leukemia, or head and neck cancers.  Previous radiation therapy to the head or neck during childhood may increase the risk of secondary cancers.
• Chemical exposure: Prolonged exposure to chemicals like pesticides, petroleum, synthetic rubber, and vinyl chloride may raise the risk.
• Inherited syndromes: certain genetic conditions may increase the risk of high-grade gliomas, including:
  • Li-Fraumeni syndrome
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Turcot syndrome
  • Lynch syndrome
  • Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency syndrome

  *Genetic testing can help identify these inherited conditions.

Is Glioblastoma Hereditary?

Inherited glioblastomas are rare. While it’s possible to inherit genetic variations linked to the disease, most mutations occur randomly during a person’s lifetime and are not passed down from parents.

Symptoms

Glioblastoma symptoms often appear suddenly as the tumor grows and puts pressure on the brain, damaging healthy tissue. Common symptoms include:

• Headaches: often one of the first signs of glioblastoma. They may worsen over time, become more frequent and resist over-the-counter pain medicine. Headaches can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or worsening pain when lying down, bending over, or straining.
• Seizures: may include uncontrollable movements, numbness, tingling, difficulty speaking, strange smells, or unresponsive episodes. Seizures may occur even in those with no prior history of seizures.
• Cognitive and personality changes: confusion, memory problems, or difficulty thinking and understanding. As well as mood swings, irritability, or sudden depression and anxiety, and behavioral changes, such as withdrawal or a loss of inhibitions.
• Speech issues: difficulty finding words, speaking clearly, or understanding language.
• Vision and sensory changes: blurred or double vision, loss of peripheral vision, or trouble seeing. Changes in the sense of touch, including numbness, tingling, or reduced ability to feel temperature or pressure.
• Muscle weakness and coordination problems: weakness in the face, arms, or legs. Trouble with balance or coordination.
• Nausea and vomiting: often accompanies headaches or occurs due to increased pressure in the brain.
• Changes in vital signs: irregular pulse or breathing rates, typically due to compression of the brainstem.

It’s important to notice that these symptoms do not always indicate glioblastoma or a brain tumor. However, if you experience any of these signs, it is important to consult a doctor to determine the cause and receive appropriate care.