Glioma
Choose a type
What is a glioma?
A glioma is a type of brain tumour that starts in the brain (primary brain tumour). More than half of all primary brain tumours are gliomas.
These tumours are made up of cells that look similar to a type of cell called glial cells. Glial cells are the supporting cells in the brain and spinal cord. There are different types of glial cells.
Booklets and resources
Astrocytoma
Astrocytoma is the most common type of glioma. It develops from a star-shaped glial cell called an astrocyte. Astrocytomas can be low- or high-grade.
Oligodendroglioma
An oligodendroglioma is made up of cells that look similar to glial cells, called oligodendrocytes. These cells wrap around nerve cells and act as a layer of insulation. This helps our nerves send messages when telling our body to do something.
There are two main grades of these tumours – grade 2 and grade 3.
Ependymoma
An ependymoma (pronounced e-pen-da-moma) is a rare type of glioma. It is made up of cells that look similar to glial cells, called ependymal cells. These cells line the fluid-filled spaces (ventricles) in the brain and the centre of the spinal cord. This type of tumour can develop in any part of the brain or spine.
Ependymomas can be grade 1 to 3.
Getting support
Being diagnosed with a brain tumour may cause a range of different emotions. There is no right or wrong way to feel. It may help to get support from family, friends or a support organisation.
Macmillan is also here to support you. If you would like to talk, you can:
- Call the Macmillan Support Line for free on 0808 808 00 00.
- Chat to our specialists online.
- Visit our brain cancer forum to talk with people who have been affected by brain tumours, share your experience, and ask an expert your questions.
Other organisations who can help
You may also want to get support from a brain tumour charity, such as:
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our primary brain tumour information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
EANO-ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for prophylaxis, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up: Neurological and vascular complications of primary and secondary brain tumours. 2021. Available from www.eano.eu/publications/eano-guidelines/eano-esmo-clinical-practice-guidelines-for-prophylaxis-diagnosis-treatment-and-follow-up-neurological-and-vascular-complications-of-primary-and-secondary-brain-tumours [accessed August 2024].
NICE Guideline NG99. Brain tumours (primary) and brain metastases in over 16s. 2018 (updated 2021). Available from: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng99 [accessed August 2024].
Date reviewed
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The language we use
We want everyone affected by cancer to feel our information is written for them.
We want our information to be as clear as possible. To do this, we try to:
- use plain English
- explain medical words
- use short sentences
- use illustrations to explain text
- structure the information clearly
- make sure important points are clear.
We use gender-inclusive language and talk to our readers as ‘you’ so that everyone feels included. Where clinically necessary we use the terms ‘men’ and ‘women’ or ‘male’ and ‘female’. For example, we do so when talking about parts of the body or mentioning statistics or research about who is affected.
You can read more about how we produce our information here.
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