Glioma
A group of brain tumors that start in the glial cells.
What a glioma is
Your brain has nerve cells, and it has helper cells around them. The helper cells are called glial cells. A glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are graded 1 to 4 by how fast they tend to grow. See the glossary is a tumor that starts in those helper cells.
Glioma is a group, not one thing. Doctors sort gliomas by which helper cell they came from and how fast they grow.
Why the word matters
If your report says glioma, look for the more exact word next to it. It may say astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, ependymoma, or glioblastoma: The fastest-growing type of glioma (grade 4). Treatment usually starts soon after diagnosis: surgery first, then radiation and chemotherapy. See the glossary. That word tells you more than glioma alone.
Your report may also give a grade, from 1 to 4. A lower grade grows more slowly.
What to ask your team
- Which kind of glioma is mine?
- What grade is it?
- Where in my brain is it?
This is not medical advice. It explains research in plain words. Your care team knows your case. Talk with them before you make any decision about your treatment.