Sino-Singapore Online, May 8 (Reporter Chen Jing) Ovarian cancer is one of the three most common malignant tumors in the female reproductive system. Mortality ranks first among gynecological malignancies. After surgery and first-line chemotherapy, the recurrence rate is still extremely high.
The reporter learned from the Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University on the 8th that the gynecological oncology team of the hospital explored the creation of a "three-step chemotherapy". According to the characteristics of cancer cells and the state of different stages of postoperative patients with advanced tumors, 3 different chemotherapys were given at different levels The plan is to gradually eliminate cancer cells that may remain and reduce the risk of relapse.
Professor Wu Xiaohua, director of the Gynecologic Oncology Committee of the China Anti-Cancer Association and director of oncology gynecology at the Cancer Hospital of Fudan University, said surgery and first-line chemotherapy are the main treatments for advanced ovarian cancer, but even so, more than 90% of patients will be within 5 years relapse. Professor Di Wen, deputy director of Renji Hospital and director of obstetrics and gynecology, also said in an interview that most ovarian cancer patients will relapse within 1 to 2 years, or even multiple relapses. A family with ovarian cancer suffers a lot.
Di Wen pointed out that although the symptoms of ovarian cancer are very subtle, if you pay more attention to it, you can still find some "clues". Photo courtesy of Renji Hospital
Many years ago, the gynecological oncology team of Fudan University Cancer Hospital found in a retrospective study that some patients with advanced ovarian cancer received 6 cycles as a step, a total of 3 steps and 18 cycles of "three-step chemotherapy" treatment. The 5-year relapse rate is only 20%; while the 5-year relapse rate of similar patients who have not received the above treatment regimen is as high as 90.4%.
On the basis of the first-line plan, the gynecologic oncology team finally created a "three-step chemotherapy": firstly, the first-line standard chemotherapy of traditional ovarian cancer was used to eliminate cancer cells that are sensitive to traditional chemotherapy drugs; then the drug chemotherapy was used to supplement and eliminate the first-line chemotherapy. Cancer cells that are not sensitive to traditional chemotherapy drugs; finally, the third step of chemotherapy is performed again with relevant chemotherapy drugs to eliminate the cancer cells that may be dormant. The so-called traditional chemotherapy drugs refer to platinum-based chemotherapy drugs of paclitaxel.
It is understood that in order to further verify the effectiveness of "three-step chemotherapy", the oncology team of the Cancer Hospital carried out a randomized controlled study. According to preliminary statistics, the median disease-free progression period of patients with advanced ovarian cancer treated with "three-step chemotherapy" is significantly longer than that of the traditional control group, reaching 11.6 months.
The case disclosed by the hospital showed that Auntie Li, 58, was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer with lung metastasis 7 years ago. Although the tumor lesions were removed as far as possible through surgery, a series of chemotherapy will be followed. When she learned that even after undergoing postoperative chemotherapy, patients with advanced ovarian cancer were likely to relapse again within 5 years, and she was once frustrated. After many years of "three-step chemotherapy" treatment, Aunt Li's fear of recurrence did not occur, and the lesions in her body have been controlled. It is reported that Ms. Li's situation is not alone, and a group of patients with advanced ovarian cancer have benefited from the "three-step chemotherapy" of the gynecological oncology team of the cancer hospital.
May 8 is World Ovarian Cancer Day (WOCD). On the same day, the “Medical Care for Women, Protecting Health, and Gynecologic Oncology Large-scale Clinic Activity” co-sponsored by the Obstetricians and Gynecologists Branch of the Shanghai Medical Association and the Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine was held at the Renji Hospital.
It is understood that because the ovary is located deep in the pelvic cavity, the early symptoms after the onset are very concealed. At present, there is still no effective screening method. The patient is often in the middle and late stages of cancer when he is first diagnosed, and the best treatment opportunity is missed.
Professor Di Wen, deputy director of Renji Hospital and director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, said in an interview that although the symptoms of ovarian cancer are very subtle, if you pay more attention, you can still find some "silent signs", such as gradually increasing abdominal circumference and sustainability Fullness, gradual decrease in appetite, weight loss, chronic pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis, and urinary symptoms such as frequent urination or urgency. He pointed out that when the above symptoms occur, female friends need to be alert to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. He recommends that women over the age of 30 have at least one gynecological examination every year, and if necessary, check for ovarian cancer tumor markers; people with high-risk factors should consult a gynecologist and genetics expert as soon as possible, and do genetic testing if necessary. (Finish)