Standard Therapy for Glioblastoma

About eight out of every 100,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with glioblastomas, or primary malignant brain tumors, every year, according to the International Radiosurgery Association. These tumors account for 2 percent of cancer deaths, according to the association.

Surgery

• An open-skull surgery called craniotomy is used to treat glioblastomas. This treatment is used for patients whose tumors are life-threatening or considerable impair day-to-day life, according to IRSA.

Ultrasonic Aspiration

• Ultrasonic aspiration may be used to combat glioblastomas. Ultrasonic waves break up the tumor and suction removes the fragments.

Stereostatic Radiosurgery

• Multiple beams of cobalt60 radiation are focused on the tumor during stereostatic radiosurgery. No incisions are made, and the radiation damages tumor cells, stopping their ability to reproduce.

Radiotherapy

• Radiotherapy is not as precise as radiosurgery, according to IRSA. Radiation is used to decrease the tumor's size over multiple visits.

Chemotherapy

• Drugs are used to kill cancer cells during chemotherapy. Normal cells are also affected, according to IRSA.