Overview

The human body houses some of the most complex and sophisticated mechanisms ever known. It is said that if the blood vessels in the brain were stretched, they would encompass a 160,000 KMs (100,000 miles). The brain is considered the one of the most, if not the most sophisticated of all the organs in the human body. It is also one of the most important organs, since without the brain the basic functions of the human body will all come grinding to a halt. Such a delicate and important organ of the body requires a delicate caring as it is responsible for all the actions and functions of the body.

What is Glioblastoma Multiforme?

Glioblastoma Multiforme, also known as Glioblastoma, is considered the most aggressive form of cancer that begins in the brain. It is a fast growing tumour that starts developing from glial cells such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes which help in maintaining the health of the nerve cells in the brain. This tumour is also sometimes referred to as astrocytoma grade IV and is the most invasive type of glial tumour as it grows very rapidly and spreads easily throughout the brain

What is the Gliadel wafer surgery cost in India?

These tumours have the ability to either arise in the brain itself or mutate and evolve from lower level astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. The symptoms for this tumour are very non-specific and may include headache, vomiting, nausea, personality changes and even some symptoms that are similar to those of a stroke. But with time these symptoms start to worsen rapidly and this may lead to a point where the suffering patient may often lose consciousness.

The cause for the occurrence of this type of tumour is unknown but is mostly deduced to be because of a previous radiation therapy or a genetic disorder. A method for the prevention of Glioblastoma Multiforme is unclear as of yet.

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Glioblastoma Multiforme Treatment

Although glioblastoma multiforme is one of the more dangerous cancers in the world, there are still some methods to deal with it. One of the methods gaining some friction recently (apart from traditional chemotherapy) is Gliadel Wafer Surgery. Gliadel wafer is the trade name for the drug Carmustine wafer. It is also sometimes called Prolifeprospan 20 with carmustine implant instead of the generic name of carmustine wafer. It is a type of anti-cancer chemotherapy drug.

Chemotherapy

In chemotherapy, the drugs stop the cancerous cell division by usually damaging the RNA and the DNA that tell the cell to copy itself. If the cells cannot copy themselves, then they automatically die. The faster the cells try to copy and divide themselves, the faster the chemotherapy will kill them, which in turn will cause the tumour to shrink. They also make the cancer cells commit self-suicide or apoptosis. The chemo drugs that affect the cancer cells only when they are dividing are called cell-cycle specific drugs while the drugs that attack the cancer cells even in their state of rest are called cell-cycle non-specific drugs.

Gliadel Wafer Surgery

After the diagnosis for the brain tumour is confirmed, a surgery is scheduled for the removal of the malignant tumour. Gliadel or Carmustine wafer is a type of medication that is placed and left in the cavity of the brain after the removal of the tumour. This allows the gliadel wafer to deliver the drug directly into the site where the tumour was removed from. The dosage of the drug carmustine that is to be received by the patient after the tumour removal is usually based on the size of the site (cavity) where the tumour was situated before the surgery and how many wafers can be put into that place. Carmustine is an alkylating agent meaning, they are most active in the resting phase of the cell.

Glidel Wafer Surgery, USA

Ana Macey

" I'm Ana Macey, USA I was suffering from Glioblastoma Multiforme, also known as Glioblastoma, considered the most aggressive form of cancer that begins in the brain. When I came to India in search of an affordable brain treatment, I was quite certain that this won’t go away without a surgery. Spine and neuro surgery hospital India took care of me with the best neurosurgery hospital in the state and in no time I met my attending surgeon. Doctors and the staff was very caring and compassionate. He advised glidel wafer surgery and it worked like a magic spell. I’m very thankful for all the care and affection I received in India."

Top 10 Hospitals for Gliadel Wafer Surgery in India

Fortis Group of Hospital
Global Group of Hospital
Max Hospital
BLK Hospital
Artemis Hospital

Manipal Hospital
Jaslok Hospital
Saifee Hospital
Paras Hospital
Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai

Best 10 Surgeons for Gliadel Wafer Surgery in India

Dr. Sandeep Vaishya
Dr. Aditya Gupta
Dr. V. P. Singh
Dr. Atul Prasad
Dr. M R Sivakumar
Dr. Puneet Girdhar

Dr. Panneer A
Dr. Rajendran S
Dr.V.Murugan
Dr Arun Garg
Dr Rajiv Anand

Risks involved in Gliadel Wafer Treatment

Chemotherapy using gliadel has always been known for its controversial after-effects as it helps curing cancer but at the same time it brings with it a plethora of other side effects and complications. It is said that nearly 55% of people experience seizures after being treated with gliadel wafers in the recurrent disease trial. Brain edema or intracranial hypertension is also one the effects that is seen in more than 20% of the patients undergoing this treatment. Additionally, it was also observed that some patients experienced intracerebral mass effect unresponsive to corticosteroids which led to brain herniation.

In some patients, it was observed that there was the occurrence of impaired neurosurgical wound healing, delayed wound healing, wound dehiscence, subgleal, subdural, or wound effusions. Meningitis was observed in about 4% of the patients one of which was bacterial needing the removal of the wafer a couple of days after the surgery and another one developed the meningitis when he had undergone a reoperation for a recurrent tumour. Another case was found out to be chemical meningitis and was tackled using steroid treatment.

There is also a chance that the gliadel wafer might migrate to some other are of the brain. This migration into the ventricular system may cause obtrusive hydrocephalus in the brain. To reduce this risk, closure of any communication larger than the diameter of the wafer was instilled as a necessary step.

After the surgery is successful performed on the patient, the most common adverse reactions experienced by the patients are vomiting, asthenia, cerebral edema, wound healing abnormalities, depression, constipation and nausea. The most common adverse effects in recurrent Glioblastoma multiforme treatment are fever, urinary tract infection and wound healing abnormalities.

Why you should come to India for your GLIADEL Wafer Surgery?

India is gaining fame in the world for being one of the best destinations for having any form of medical procedure done. All the hospitals in India have the best and the most modern of medical facilities and the latest of technologies to treat any type of complex disorder without any issue. All the doctors and medical experts in India are immensely experienced and have a vast array of skills having performed sophisticated surgeries in countries like Germany, France, USA, UK, Canada and many more. The Gliadel wafer surgery cost in India is also very less when compared to that of the developed nations. The prices may linger in the range of 40-60% of the price in the western countries.