Navigating Glioblastoma and High-Grade Glioma: A Patient and Family Guide to Primary Brain Tumors

by Thomas Gruber, Marcia Gruber-Page

Overview

Finding the way forward after a diagnosis of Glioblastoma
A must-read guide for you and your loved ones on this journey

Glioblastoma. The word is intimidating, scary, confusing, and instantly will make you feel helpless. Multiple doctor appointments, strange medical terms, difficult decisions, confusing terminology, and confusing technology all combine to frighten you and make you wonder how you’ll ever navigate this impossible new world and still feel like you’re doing everything possible for your own health or the health of your loved one. This book is designed to clear the fog of Glioblastoma. To help you as the patient and your loved ones understand the diagnosis in plain, comfortable language. To help understand the pluses and minuses of the treatment options. To help make sense of all the testing. To help you understand what to expect at important junctions during treatment. To give you the information you need to make crucial decisions about your care. In this book, Dr. Gruber uses his fifteen-plus years of knowledge, experience, and training as a Board - Certified Neurosurgeon to guide and shepherd Glioblastoma patients and their loved ones through this difficult diagnosis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781642254099
Publisher:	Advantage Media Group, Inc.
Publication date:	10/25/2022
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	500,619
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.37(d)

About the Author

DR. THOMAS J. GRUBER is a neurosurgeon in Paducah, Kentucky and is affiliated with Baptist Health Paducah. He received his medical degree from Universityat Buffalo School of Medicine.

MARCIA GRUBER-PAGE RN, is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Oncology. Her degrees are from Niagara Universityand Universityat Buffalo. Marcia is the System Vice President for Administration and Nursing for the CommonSpirit Health Oncology Clinical Institute.

Table of Contents

ABOUT THIS BOOK
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
What Is Glioblastoma Multiforme? It Is a Beast ...
Your Team
Imaging Tests
The Cookbook
Surgery
Chemotherapy and Other Medications
Radiation Therapy
Neurologic Disabilities and Coping with Them
Recurrence
Additional Treatments
Alternative Treatments and the Role of Diet, Supplements, and Attitude
Financial Considerations of GBM
Other Care Paths to Pursue or Consider
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
ABOUT THE AUTHORS

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“A diagnosis of glioblastoma dramatically impacts a patient and their family, and many treatment decisions need to be made in a short period of time. Dr. Gruber is an expert neurosurgeon and he provides patients and families an invaluable roadmap to help them understand and face the challenges of a malignant brain tumor. I highly recommend this book and will be providing it to my patients and their families.”
—Andrew Fabiano, MD, FAANS
Contributing Author, National Standards of Care for Brain Cancer Professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology Buffalo, NY

“As a senior executive, I interacted often with neurosurgeon Tom Gruber in executive-level meetings and budget discussions to plan for future needs. It never occurred to me that I would become one of his patients in 2015 when I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent brain surgery. Dr. Gruber has carefully explored ways to help us all by developing this brilliant approach to guide patients and their families from diagnosis through every stage of the journey.”
— Bonnie Schrock, MBA, FACHE
Brain Tumor Patient Former COO, Baptist Health Paducah

“To hear that I had brain cancer was like a sucker punch to the stomach. The words brain cancer echoed through my head. Unfortunately, in the meantime, I did the one thing no one should do: research your diagnosis on the internet. No two people are alike; your case will never be the same as anyone else’s. This is your story and only your story to write. His book, Navigating Glioblastoma and High Grade Glioma , is superbly written in that it provides resourceful and practical advice on how to navigate through this journey with an easy-to-read and easy-to-understand guide not only for the patient, but the family as well.”
— Candice Cole Brain Tumor Patient

“This book is amazing. I can honestly say that so many of the things written about, in layman’s terms, are exactly the things that I have heard asked by patients and explained by the nurses. This is such a scary and anxious time for the patient and caregiver who have so many questions—and when they get home and start trying to remember, they realize they did not absorb everything that the doctor told them. Having the information in this easy to read and understand book would be wonderful to provide to each patient with this diagnosis.”
—Kimberly Sweeney, RN, MBA
Executive Director, Concierge Services NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York State

“Thomas is the most talented neurosurgeon I’ve ever known. He is genuinely concerned for my wellbeing. I’m blessed to have him on my team. Thank you thank you thank you!”
PATIENT Baptist Health Paducah

Editorial Reviews

A diagnosis of glioblastoma dramatically impacts a patient and their family, and many treatment decisions need to be made in a short period of time. Dr. Gruber is an expert neurosurgeon and he provides patients and families an invaluable roadmap to help them understand and face the challenges of a malignant brain tumor. I highly recommend this book and will be providing it to my patients and their families.”
—Andrew Fabiano, MD, FAANS
Contributing Author, National Standards of Care for Brain Cancer Professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology Buffalo, NY

“As a senior executive, I interacted often with neurosurgeon Tom Gruber in executive-level meetings and budget discussions to plan for future needs. It never occurred to me that I would become one of his patients in 2015 when I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent brain surgery. Dr. Gruber has carefully explored ways to help us all by developing this brilliant approach to guide patients and their families from diagnosis through every stage of the journey.”
— Bonnie Schrock, MBA, FACHE
Brain Tumor Patient Former COO, Baptist Health Paducah

“To hear that I had brain cancer was like a sucker punch to the stomach. The words brain cancer echoed through my head. Unfortunately, in the meantime, I did the one thing no one should do: research your diagnosis on the internet. No two people are alike; your case will never be the same as anyone else’s. This is your story and only your story to write. His book, Navigating Glioblastoma and High Grade Glioma , is superbly written in that it provides resourceful and practical advice on how to navigate through this journey with an easy-to-read and easy-to-understand guide not only for the patient, but the family as well.”
— Candice Cole Brain Tumor Patient

“This book is amazing. I can honestly say that so many of the things written about, in layman’s terms, are exactly the things that I have heard asked by patients and explained by the nurses. This is such a scary and anxious time for the patient and caregiver who have so many questions—and when they get home and start trying to remember, they realize they did not absorb everything that the doctor told them. Having the information in this easy to read and understand book would be wonderful to provide to each patient with this diagnosis.”
—Kimberly Sweeney, RN, MBA
Executive Director, Concierge Services NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York State

“Thomas is the most talented neurosurgeon I’ve ever known. He is genuinely concerned for my wellbeing. I’m blessed to have him on my team. Thank you thank you thank you!”
PATIENT Baptist Health Paducah

From the Publisher