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Nepali influencer couple, Bibek Pangeni and Srijana Subedi have been in the headlines for the treatment of the husband who was going through third-stage glioma. Unfortunately, Bibek, a PhD student in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Georgia, passed away after a courageous battle with a brain tumour diagnosed in 2022.
Their struggles in battle against glioma were shared widely online, with many people praying for a quick recovery. His wife, Sirjana, ensured that her husband always felt hope, courage, and love. Regarding the same medical condition, here is what you need to know about its symptoms and treatments.
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What Is Glioma?
According to the US National Cancer Institute, glioma is a group of tumours that develop in glial cells in the brain and spinal cord. Glial cells support and protect the nerve cells in the central nervous system and help them function properly. Gliomas can appear anywhere in the brain or spinal cord and can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).
They can also be classified as low-grade or high-grade, based on how abnormal the tumour cells look under a microscope and how quickly the tumour is likely to grow, spread, and return after treatment
What Are the Symptoms Of Glioma?
‘Symptom management and quality of life in glioma patients’, a study published on PubMed details the symptoms of glioma. It may vary depending on the tumour's location and size but commonly include the following.
- Fatigue: A persistent feeling of tiredness that is not proportional to activity and interferes with daily life. About 40-80% of glioma patients report severe fatigue, as per the study.
- Cognitive Deficits: Problems with information processing, attention, memory, and executive functioning.
- Depression: Common feelings of distress or sadness following a serious illness diagnosis.
- Changes in Personality and Behaviour: These can occur due to damage to brain structures from the tumour or its treatment.
- Headaches: Very common among glioma patients.
- Focal Neurological Symptoms: This includes issues such as weakness, visual-perceptual deficits, sensory loss, and seizures.
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What Are The Treatments Of Glioma?
The study further explains the treatment of glioma. It involves a combination of approaches tailored to the individual patient's needs, considering factors such as the tumour's type, location, and grade. Here are the key treatment options:
- Surgical intervention is often the first step in treating gliomas. The goal is to remove as much of the tumour as possible while preserving healthy brain tissue. In some cases, complete removal may not be feasible due to the tumour's location or its infiltration into the surrounding tissue.
- Radiation therapy is commonly used following surgery, especially for high-grade gliomas. It aims to destroy remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence.
- Chemotherapy may be administered in conjunction with surgery and radiotherapy, particularly for malignant gliomas.
- This approach focuses on specific characteristics of cancer cells. For instance, treatments targeting genetic mutations or molecular markers associated with gliomas are being researched and developed.
- Participation in clinical trials may provide access to new therapies that are not yet widely available. These trials often focus on innovative treatments or combinations of existing therapies aimed at improving outcomes for glioma patients.
Conclusion
The journey of the Nepali influencer couple, Bibek Pangeni and Srijana Subedi highlights the significant challenges faced by those battling glioma, a serious brain tumour. Despite their efforts and community support, Bibek ultimately lost his fight against the illness.
Gliomas present various symptoms, including fatigue and cognitive deficits. As per the study, it requires a multifaceted treatment approach involving surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. As research advances, there is hope for improved outcomes for glioma patients.