Glioblastoma Multiforme is the single most common primary brain tumor in the world. It is also the most aggressive primary brain tumor known to exist. Glioblastoma Multiforme, (also known as GBM or Grade 4 astrocytoma), is a high-grade, or malignant glioma, a tumor of the glial (supportive) tissue of the brain. Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) patients generally have a dismal prognosis, with an average survival time of only one year from onset. GBM accounts for about 50% of adult gliomas; and up to 10% of pediatric gliomas are either Grade 3 astrocytomas, (aka Anaplastic astrocytoma); or Grade 4 astrocytoma, (aka Glioblastoma Multiforme). It occurs with an incidence of 3 per 100,000 per year, producing about 9000 cases annually in the United States alone. Cases of glioblastoma multiforme are distributed over a broad range of ages, with an average age at diagnosis of 53 years. Prognosis factors include age (with the tumors of older patients being more aggressive and more resistant to treatment) and post-operative physical performance status. Long-term survivors, (defined as those who are alive just 3 to 5 years following diagnosis), are extremely rare. Usually, the only common feature that these “long-term survivors” of GBM share is a younger age than the average of 53 years.

Unfortunately, there are very few non-profit organizations that are dedicated to promoting more productive and aggressive research into the cause(s) of - and an eventual cure for - Glioblastoma Multiforme. To our knowledge, there are no organizations that are solely dedicated to assisting families with their financial needs as they are dealing with a loved one that is suffering from this horrific form of cancer. Adult patients can no longer work; parents of younger GBM patients must take time off from work. And sadly, nearly 100% of all GBM patients will die within a relatively short period of time.

The Glioblastoma Multiforme Foundation desperately needs your donation today to:

1. Raise funds to award special GBM Research Grants to those research programs and/or research facilities that are vigorously exploring possible cures using different approaches than the majority, (i.e., research programs and/or research facilities that are “thinking outside of the box”). Glioblastoma Multiforme is one of the most relentless and aggressive brain cancers; therefore, it requires much more relentless and aggressive research than what has been done to date. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the five-year survival rate for patients with GBM is 3 percent. This survival rate has not changed in over 25 years. This means that a patient who is diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme today has no better chances of survival than a patient who was diagnosed in 1983. Obviously, the Glioblastoma Multiforme research that has been done over the past 25 years has not produced any significant results. This is unacceptable - and it is the primary reason the Glioblastoma Multiforme Foundation was organized.

2. Raise funds to award grants to those research programs and/or research facilities which are conducting the most cutting-edge research to significantly prolong the lives of GBM patients. Although a cure is the ultimate goal of GBMF - any treatment(s) which will increase the median survival time for GBM patients is a step in the right direction toward an eventual cure.

3. Raise funds to assist the families of, (and/or adult GBM patients themselves) with financial needs related to time lost from work; to help with transportation for treatments and doctor’s appointments; and to assist with final expenses.