United States Senator John McCain of Arizona recently underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. Doctors then discovered a rare and aggressive kind of cancer in the tumor called glioblastoma. Glioblastoma tumors are usually highly malignant, or cancerous. These are grade 4 tumors, which means they can grow fast and spread quickly. Glioblastoma tumors make their own blood supply, which helps them grow. It's easy for them to invade normal brain tissue.

            Dr. Michael Salacz is a neuro-oncologist at The University of Kansas Cancer Center…the only such board-certified specialist in the region…and one of only about 200 in the country. He treats patients with glioblastoma, which is one of the most deadly forms of brain cancer. In the video, Dr. Salacz explains this type of cancer and its symptoms, which include persistent headaches, seizures, vomiting, trouble thinking, changes in mood or personality, double or blurred vision and trouble speaking. He says the best treatments are surgery, radiation and a chemotherapy pill called Temodar. Dr. Salacz says the five-year survival numbers have tripled in the last few years, but he says research will be the key to improving the survival rates. One of the biggest events that funds research is coming next month…the Head For the Cure 5K run and walk on Sunday, August 27 at Corporate Woods.