When someone you love is diagnosed with glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer, the decisions that follow can feel overwhelming. Even more unsettling is the reality that standard treatment options often offer only limited benefits. That’s why some patients, like UK-based Raimondas and his partner Asta, choose to pursue care at private clinics.
So why do glioblastoma patients sometimes turn away from NHS pathways and instead raise thousands to access care elsewhere? Here’s what you need to know.
The NHS, Private Clinics, and the Search for Options
Glioblastoma is a rare but devastating brain tumour that affects around 3,000 people each year in the UK. It grows quickly and resists many standard treatments.
The NHS offers a well-established course of care: surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These treatments can help control symptoms and slow progression, but they rarely lead to long-term remission.
Newer therapies, such as advanced immunotherapies, targeted drugs, and tumour-treating fields, are still being tested or are not widely available through the NHS due to cost, limited evidence, or ongoing trials. This gap is what pushes some families to explore options outside of public healthcare and consider private clinics or even international treatment centres.
Private clinics, on the other hand, often promise access to the latest therapies, personalised treatment plans, and more time with specialists. But they come at a cost, sometimes upwards of £100,000, which is out of reach for most households without significant financial help or public fundraising.
What Private Clinics Offer
Some of the advanced options that families seek through private care include:
- Immunotherapy: Experimental approaches to stimulate the immune system to recognise and attack tumour cells.
- Targeted Molecular Therapies: Drugs tailored to disrupt specific genetic features of the tumour.
- Tumour-Treating Fields: A wearable device delivering electrical fields to inhibit cancer cell growth.
- Personalised Medicine: Treatments designed based on the unique genetic and molecular makeup of the tumour.
While these therapies are promising, they are not guaranteed cures and are often recommended alongside, not instead of, standard care.
Should Everyone Pursue Private Treatment?
Not necessarily. While some patients may benefit from clinical trials or experimental approaches, others may find that standard NHS care provides the best balance of quality, safety, and support for their needs.
It’s crucial to discuss all options with an oncologist, weigh the evidence carefully, and make decisions that align with the patient’s goals and circumstances.
How You Can Help
Even if you’re not directly affected, there are ways you can support those who are:
- Donate to reputable crowdfunding campaigns.
- Share their stories to raise awareness.
- Advocate for more funding and research into glioblastoma and other rare cancers.
Takeaways
Glioblastoma is one of the most challenging diagnoses in modern medicine, and it forces patients and families to make tough, often heartbreaking decisions.
For some, private clinics represent a chance, however slim, to extend life, improve quality of life, or simply feel they’ve explored every possibility.
Whatever path a patient chooses, what matters most is ensuring they feel supported and informed every step of the way.
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