Patient education
When someone receives a glioblastoma diagnosis, their world shifts dramatically and uncertainty becomes pervasive. Multiple questions emerge simultaneously, about treatment options, prognosis, what each day ahead might.
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Patient education
Brain health
Diagnostics
Treatment options
Article
When someone receives a glioblastoma diagnosis, their world shifts dramatically and uncertainty becomes pervasive. Multiple questions emerge simultaneously, about treatment options, prognosis, what each day ahead might look like, and how to support a loved one navigating one of the most challenging diagnoses in medicine. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, and the emotional weight of that reality is profound.
Yet throughout these challenging times, compassion serves as a stabilizing and deeply humanizing force, not a substitute for medical expertise, but an essential companion to it.
Glioblastoma is a Grade IV astrocytoma, the highest grade of malignancy among primary brain tumors, classified by the World Health Organization. It arises from astrocytes, the star-shaped glial cells that support neurons in the brain. GBM is characterized by rapid growth, infiltration of surrounding brain tissue, and a propensity for recurrence even after aggressive treatment.
Key facts about glioblastoma:
The current standard of care for newly diagnosed GBM, established by the landmark Stupp protocol, involves surgical resection followed by concurrent radiation therapy and temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy, followed by adjuvant temozolomide cycles. For eligible patients with MGMT-methylated tumors, this approach has been shown to meaningfully extend survival.
Additional treatment considerations and emerging options include:
The neurological oncology team at Charis Neurology works in close coordination with neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists to provide integrated, subspecialty-level neuro-oncology care for GBM patients throughout their treatment journey.
Dr. Sherif Makar, founder of Charis Neurology and a UCNS-certified neuro-oncologist, understands that outstanding GBM care requires more than clinical expertise, it requires compassion, clear communication, and genuine partnership with patients and families.
Compassion in glioblastoma care manifests in many forms:
Despite the challenges of varying treatment responses and individual outcomes, compassion provides something that no medication can fully replace: hope, comfort, and the reminder that even in profound uncertainty, patients are not alone.
An important dimension of glioblastoma care that is often underemphasized is early integration of palliative care, not as an alternative to treatment, but alongside it. Palliative neurology focuses on managing symptoms such as seizures, corticosteroid side effects, fatigue, cognitive changes, and pain, while actively supporting quality of life throughout the treatment course.
Advance care planning, including conversations about goals of care, resuscitation preferences, and end-of-life wishes, is a compassionate act that should ideally begin early, when patients are best able to articulate their values and preferences.
Charis Neurology offers specialized neuro-oncology consultation and ongoing neurological management for patients with glioblastoma and other brain tumors in Central Florida. Our services include:
If you or a loved one is facing a glioblastoma diagnosis, we encourage you to seek subspecialty neuro-oncology evaluation early. Contact Charis Neurology at (407) 603-1633 or visit us at 775 Primera Blvd, Suite 1031, Lake Mary, FL 32746. We are here to provide expert guidance, compassionate support, and a partnership that lasts throughout your journey.
Stop waiting. Start healing.
Our team will follow up during business hours. For urgent concerns, please call us directly.
