Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 3/19/2009

Question
Hello.  My husband has been diagnosed with GBM and he now has 9 tumours picked up by the neurologist/surgeon MRI/Cat Scan.  Although there is general information available on what might happen in the ensuing months, it would be great to know what we might expect in terms of symptoms.  He is very concerned about losing all his facilities and to put it bluntly whether he will become incontinent etc.  Is there a group of symptoms he will go through and an expected time frame for these things to happen.  He has been given 6 - 9 months to live and I want to keep his pride in tact and curb his embarrassment etc in front of our children and particularly our grandchildren.  We do not want them to be frightened.  I am sorry if this questions has been asked before but I have only just found your site.  I would be grateful for your response and honesty.  We truly just want to be prepared.
Thank you.
Regards
Jo

Answer
Yes this question is - naturally - actually rather common with GBM patients. Over time he will become more and more confused and will also lose the ability to take care of himself (including hygiene etc.). There may be stroke like symptoms and even epileptic fits. He will sleep more and more, eventually all the time - and then the end is near. He will then drift into a coma and then pass away. There will be little pain - if indeed any. I have no objections to the predicted survival time. However it is quite difficult to give you any kind of exact time line of this scenario due to individual differences. Both patienta AND tumours are individuals not identical copies/clones so while there are similarities there are also differences. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!