“A goiter can be smooth and uniformly enlarged, called diffuse goiter, or it can be caused by one or more nodules within the gland, called nodular goiter. Nodules may be solid, filled with fluid, or partly fluid and partly solid.

Thyroid nodules are quite common. When examined with ultrasound imaging, as many as one-third of women and one-fifth of men have small thyroid nodules.

It’s possible for an enlarged thyroid to continue functioning well and producing the right amounts of hormones. In fact, most goiters and nodules don’t cause health problems.”.

USCF Health (www.ucsfhealth.org)/University of California San Francisco

“MRI a must for diagnosing and follow up after treatment.  The is also biopsy for some in diagnosing.  Regarding treatment chemo, radiation treatment and surgery for those that benefit and are candidates depending where the tumor is located.  MOST OF ALL KNOW THIS Cutting-edge brain imaging technology developed at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC is helping to save cancer patients’ lives (not just extend them!)”

UPMC /Life Changing Medicine

Tests and procedures used to diagnose glioblastoma include:

• Neurological exam. During a neurological exam, your doctor will ask you about your signs and symptoms. He or she may check your vision, hearing, balance, coordination, strength and reflexes. Problems in one or more of these areas may provide clues about the part of your brain that could be affected by a brain tumor.
• Imaging tests. Imaging tests can help your doctor determine the location and size of your brain tumor.  MRI is often used to diagnose brain tumors, and it may be used along with specialized MRI imaging, such as functional MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.  Imaging tests can help your doctor determine the location and size of your brain tumor. Other imaging tests may include CT and positron emission tomography (PET).
• Removing a sample of tissue for testing (biopsy). A biopsy can be done with a needle before surgery or during surgery to remove your glioblastoma, depending on your particular situation and the location of your tumor. The sample of suspicious tissue is analyzed in a laboratory to determine the types of cells and their level of aggressiveness.Depending on the location of the glioma, a biopsy may be performed with a needle before treatment or as part of an operation to remove the brain tumor.  Specialized tests of the tumor cells can tell your doctor the types of mutations the cells have acquired. This gives your doctor clues about your prognosis and may guide your treatment options.A biopsy is the only way to definitively diagnose a brain tumor and give a prognosis to guide treatment decisions. Based on this information, a doctor who specializes in diagnosing cancer and other tissue abnormalities (pathologist) can determine the grade or stage of a brain tumor.The pathologist will also examine the physical appearance and growth rate of your biopsy sample (molecular diagnosis). Your doctor will explain the pathologist’s findings to you. This information helps guide decision-making about your treatment plan.

Treatments:

Treatment for glioma depends on the type, size, grade and location of the tumor, as well as your age, overall health and preferences.

In addition to actions to remove the tumor itself, treatment for glioma may also require using drugs to reduce the signs and symptoms of your tumor.

Your doctor may prescribe steroids to reduce swelling and relieve pressure on affected areas of the brain. Anti-epileptic drugs may be used to control seizures.

1-Surgery

Surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible is usually the first step in treating most types of gliomas.

In some cases, gliomas are small and easy to separate from surrounding healthy brain tissue, which makes complete surgical removal possible. In other cases, tumors can’t be separated from surrounding tissue, or they’re located near sensitive areas in your brain and make surgery risky. In these situations your doctor removes as much of the tumor as is safe.

Even removing a portion of the tumor may help reduce your signs and symptoms.

In some cases, neuropathologists may analyze tissue samples removed by a surgeon and report the results while surgery is underway. This information helps the surgeon decide how much tissue to remove.

A variety of surgical technologies and techniques may be used to assist the neurosurgeon in protecting as much healthy brain tissue as possible while removing the tumor, including computer-assisted brain surgery, intraoperative MRI, awake brain surgery and lasers. For example, during awake brain surgery, you may be asked to perform a task with the goal of ensuring the area of the brain controlling that function is not damaged.

Surgery to remove a glioma carries risks, such as infection and bleeding. Other risks may depend on the part of your brain in which your tumor is located. For instance, surgery on a tumor near nerves that connect to your eyes may carry a risk of vision loss.

2-Radiation therapy:

Radiation therapy usually follows surgery in treatment of glioma, especially high-grade gliomas. Radiation uses high-energy beams, such as X-rays or protons, to kill tumor cells. Radiation therapy for glioma comes from a machine outside your body (external beam radiation).

There are several types of external beam radiation currently used and under study for the treatment of glioma. The type of glioma you have, its grade and other prognostic factors are considered in determining the timing and type of radiation therapy you may receive. A doctor who specializes in radiation therapy for cancer (radiation oncologist) will work closely with your other doctors to plan and coordinate the most appropriate radiation treatment for you.

Radiation therapy options include:

• Using computers to pinpoint delivery of radiation treatment to the exact location of the brain tumor. Techniques include intensity-modulated radiation therapy and 3D conformal radiation therapy.
• Using protons — the positive parts of atoms — rather than X-rays as the source of radiation. This technique, called conformal proton beam therapy, delivers radiation only once proton beams reach the tumor, causing less damage than X-rays to surrounding tissue.
• Using multiple beams of radiation to give a highly focused form of radiation treatment. While this technique is called stereotactic radiation therapy (radiosurgery), it doesn’t actually involve surgery in the traditional sense. Each beam of radiation isn’t particularly powerful, but the point where all the beams meet — at the brain tumor — receives a very large dose of radiation to kill the tumor cells in a very small area.

There are different types of technology used in radiosurgery to deliver radiation to treat brain tumors, such as a Gamma Knife or linear accelerator (LINAC).

Side effects of radiation therapy depend on the type and dose of radiation you receive. Common side effects during or immediately following radiation include fatigue, headaches and scalp irritation.

3-Chemotherapy Treatment:

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill tumor cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be taken in pill form (orally) or injected into a vein (intravenously).

Chemotherapy is usually used in combination with radiation therapy to treat gliomas.

The chemotherapy drug used most often to treat gliomas is temozolomide (Temodar), which is taken as a pill.

Side effects of chemotherapy depend on the type and dose of drugs you receive. Common side effects include nausea and vomiting, headache, hair loss, fever, and weakness. Some side effects may be managed with medication.

4-Targeted drug therapy:

Targeted drug treatments focus on specific abnormalities present within cancer cells. By blocking these abnormalities, targeted drug treatments can cause cancer cells to die.

One targeted drug therapy used to treat a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma is bevacizumab (Avastin). This drug, given through a vein (intravenously), stops the formation of new blood vessels, cutting off blood supply to a tumor and killing the tumor cells.

5-Treatment innovations:

Brain cancer research is a very active field of study. Researchers are investigating new ways to deliver drugs to brain tumors, including pumps that release a continuous, slow flow of chemotherapy or targeted drug therapies to a tumor. This type of treatment is called convection-enhanced delivery (CED).

Another type of therapy uses technology called tumor treating fields (Optune) to deliver electric fields to the brain, which can help stop the proliferation of cancer cells. Optune is a wearable, portable device and is used in combination with temozolomide to treat newly diagnosed glioblastoma in adults.

Implanted, biodegradable wafer therapy (Gliadel) relies on an implanted disc to release chemotherapy to tumor tissue that remains after surgery. And in nanoparticle therapy, particles with an unusually high surface area carry chemotherapy across the blood-brain barrier directly to a tumor.

6-Rehabilitation after treatment:

Because brain tumors can develop in parts of the brain that control motor skills, speech, vision and thinking, rehabilitation may be a necessary part of recovery. Your doctor may refer you to services that can help, such as:

• Physical therapy can help you regain lost motor skills or muscle strength
• Occupational therapy, which can help you get back to your normal daily activities, including work, after a brain tumor or other illness
• Speech therapy with specialists in speech difficulties (speech pathologists), which can help if you have difficulty speaking
• Tutoring for school-age children, which can help kids cope with changes in memory and thinking after a brain tumor

”  Glioblastoma grows very aggressively because it creates its own blood supply and it destroys normal brain tissue rapidly. There are treatment options available that can ease the symptoms. Depending on where the brain tumor is located, different signs are more obvious than others because your brain affects different parts of the body.  To keep a close eye on the tumor your Oncologist will have you every month to every 3 months or more depending on how the tumor is growing.”

Fact&Health (10 Signs and Symptoms of Glioblastoma @ facty.com)

Our central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain, the spinal cord, and the retina. It is the command center of the body, powering everything that we do and interpreting everything around us.

This system continues developing throughout the entire human lifetime, constantly creating and eliminating neurons to keep the standard nervous system functioning refreshed.

The central nervous system works by taking in the information collected by the peripheral nervous system and redistributing information based on that. It controls everything from a sneeze to the rate of your heartbeat.

The CNS contains about 86 billion nerve cells in total, this is more than 12x the amount of people on planet Earth right now! All of them are connected by trillions of nerve fibers – axons and dendrites – that facilitate the transmission of information throughout the entire nervous system.

Glia, also called glial cells or neuroglia, are non-neuronal cells in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system that do not produce the electrical impulses.  They maintain homeostasis, form myelin , and provide support and protection for neurons.  In the central nervous system, glial cells include oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, ependymal cells, and microglia, and in the peripheral nervous system glial cells include Schwann cells and satellite cells. 

Glial cells have four main functions: (1) to surround neurons and hold them in place (the reason they are also called glue cells)        (2) to supply nutrients and oxygen to neurons   (3) to insulate one neuron from another   (4) to destroy pathogens and remove dead neurons. They also play a role in neurotransmission and synaptic connections, and in physiological processes like breathing.

Glial cells or neuroglial cells; also known as the helper cells but non-neuronal cells since it does not do what a neuronal cell does .  Glial cells function is to support the neuron (glue cells remember).   

The term glia is Greek meaning “glue”.   So where these cells might not have the function of electrical stimulation from the brain to the area to create motor movement or functions we might not realize we are doing like breathing without glial cells their neurons would fall apart the glial cells keep them together.

A neuron is a nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system. Neurons are similar to other cells in the human body in a number of ways, but there is one key difference between neurons and other cells. Neurons are specialized to transmit information throughout the body. 

Neurons (also known as neurones, nerve cells and nerve fibers) are specialized cells because they are electrically excitable cells in the nervous system that function to process and transmit information.  Glial cells are specialized cells that help in allowing neuronal cells do the transmission of nerve impulses, which are the nerve cells.  You find these cells in the nervous system.  Muscle movement is initiated by nerve cells (neurons) that are located in the spinal-cord and in the front part of the brain (called the motor cortex). Nerve cells in the motor cortex connect with the nerve cells in the spinal-cord that stimulate muscles to move (called motor nerves). Nerve cells (neurons) Function: releasing of neurosecretions, co-operation between the nervous system and endocrine system in the regulation of the function of internal organs. Location: supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. 

Glio representing the glial cells and blaststoma the representing the tumor/neoplasm consisting of immature undifferentiated cells (commonly in cancerous tissue). The glial cells are in the brain,; this explains the metastasis of this tumor.  Glioblastoma(s) is only in brain tissue and then the spinal cord since the spinal cord is an extension of brain tissue (a fetus first starts growth with a brain that extends into your spinal cord during the trimesters of a pregnancy).  Even though this tumor, glioblastoma,  spreads to only 2 areas the glioblastoma replicates fast which explains why the survival rate on average in 1 to 5 years, over 5 years is rare but possible.   This all depends on how soon it’s diagnosed, what stage is it in 1?2?3? or 4? and if the individual does not ignore symptoms of a glioblastoma or if its not misdiagnosed.  The only way you would even have an idea of a brain tumor in your head is symptoms present and than going to a doctor who immediately prescribes for you a MRI of the brain or lastly, just being checked by your doctor ever year (the key to prevention).  If you have had in your family, especially nuclear family (mom;/dad/siblings) you should get checked yearly or as soon as the oncologist tells you after your first visit with a specialized doctor in cancer being the MD evaluating you.

Glioblastomas often grow in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. They can also be found in the brain stem, cerebellum, other parts of the brain, and the spinal cord.

The signs and symptoms will be based on which lobe of the brain the tumor.  The symptoms of a glioblastoma can be none at first but as the tumor grows getting bigger since it will be applying increased pressure to the brain lobe it is.  The lobe it is in based on the functions of that brain lobe can be affected (example in Temporal Lobe one of the functions is memory and memory could be effected.  These can be the symptoms based on Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (excellent cancer hospital ranking #2 in the nation by www.trendrr.net.):

Signs and symptoms of a glioma tend to develop when the tumor pushes on, or even damages, healthy brain tissue. The area around the tumor then swells. Sometimes the tumor gets in the way of the normal flow of fluid around the brain and spinal cord.

“The symptoms often relate to where in the brain the tumor develops.”  This makes sense if your tumor is increasing in the lobe its in it will create more of a headache in the area that the brain lobe is located and possible affect the functions that brain lobe is responsible for depending on the size of the tumor.  “These symptoms may be caused by something other than a glioma, but it’s important to have them checked out by a doctor.”

“An estimated 700,000 Americans are living with a primary brain tumor.  An estimated 84,170 people will receive a primary brain tumor diagnosis in 2021  The median age at diagnosis for a primary brain tumor is 60 years.  The average survival rate for all primary brain tumor patients is 75.2%.  Survival rates vary by age and tumor type and generally decrease with age”

National Brain Tumors (braintumor.org)

“6 out of 10 adults in the U.S. have a chronic disease and 4 out of 10 have two or more chronic diseases in the U.S.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease

“There are an estimated 1 million people in the U.S. living with Parkinson’s disease and more than 10 million people worldwide. Most people who develop the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease do so sometime after the age of 50.”

American Parkinson Disease Association (www.apdaparkinson.org)

“Insulin Resistance leads to many deadly ailments such as Heart Attack, Alzheimer’s Dementia, Cancer, Kidney Disease, Stroke, Gout, Obesity, and Diabetes to name the most serious illnesses. Obesity and Diabetes alone will continue progressing and cause lower back pain, joint pain, amputation, blindness, and slow healing wounds.”

Dr. Greenwald of Specialty Health in Reno NV 

Americans include two health-related issues among the 10 most important problems facing the U.S., according to a recent Gallup survey. Healthcare in general ranked fourth on the list, with Ebola coming in at no. 8. But is Ebola really among the biggest health problems for Americans? Not when we look at the chances of actually being infected.  Now Legionnaires disease but look at the main health issues we face that need to get under control and with some worse than an epidemic but a common health problem daily in the MD office or in the hospital.

So, what are the actual biggest health problems that Americans face? One way to answer this question is to look at what drugs are prescribed the most. Here are the seven top health problems based on the most-prescribed drugs in the U.S., according to Medscape’s analysis of data provided by IMS Health.

1. Hypothyroidism

AbbVie’s (ABBV) Synthroid ranks at the top of the list of most-prescribed drugs. Synthroid is used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition caused by an underactive thyroid gland.

The American Thyroid Association estimates that 2%-3% of Americans have pronounced hypothyroidism, while 10%-15% have a mild version of the disease. Hypothyroidism occurs more frequently in women, especially women over age 60. Around half of Americans with the condition don’t realize that they have hypothyroidism.

2. High cholesterol and high triglycerides

Coming in at a close second on the list is AstraZeneca’s (AZN ) Crestor. The drug is used to help control high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels.

According to the American Heart Association, nearly 99 million Americans age 20 and over have high cholesterol. Elevated cholesterol levels are one of the major risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. The problem is that you won’t know if you have high cholesterol unless you get tested — and around one in three Americans haven’t had their cholesterol levels checked in the last five years.

3. Heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease

AstraZeneca also claims the third most prescribed drug in the nation — Nexium. The “purple pill” helps treat hearburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, also commonly referred to as acid reflux.

Around 20% of Americans have GERD, according to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. A lot of people take over-the-counter medications, but that’s not enough for many others. Medscape reported that over 18.6 million prescriptions of Nexium were filled between July 2013 and June 2014.

4. Breathing disorders

The next two highly prescribed drugs treat breathing disorders. GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK ) Ventolin HFA is used by asthma patients, while the company’s Advair Diskus treats asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

More than 25 million Americans have asthma. Around 7 million of these patients are children. Meanwhile, COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, ranks as the third-leading cause of death in the U.S.

5. High blood pressure

Novartis (NVS) claims the next top-prescribed drug with Diovan. The drug treats high blood pressure by relaxing and widening blood vessels, thereby allowing blood to flow more readily.

Around one-third of American adults have high blood pressure. Many don’t know that they are affected, because the condition doesn’t usually manifest symptoms for a long time. However, high blood pressure can eventually lead to other serious health issues, including heart and kidney problems.

6. Diabetes

Several highly prescribed drugs combat diabetes, with Sanofi’s (SNY) Lantus Solostar taking the top spot for the condition. Lantus Solostar is a long-acting basal insulin that is used for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report released in June 2014, 29.1 million Americans had diabetes in 2012. That’s a big jump from just two years earlier, when 25.8 million Americans had the disease. Diabetes ranks as the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.

7. Depression and anxiety

Eli Lilly’s Cymbalta is the leading treatment for depression and generalized anxiety disorder.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America estimates that 14.8 million Americans ages 18 and older suffer from a major depressive disorder each year. Around 3.3 million have persistent depressive disorder, a form of depression that lasts for two or more years. Generalized anxiety disorder affects around 6.8 million adults in the U.S.

If you want to panic of a real large amount of what we have regarding disease or illnesses in our country look at problems one through seven.