Trachelectomy Preserves Fertility in Women with Cervical Cancer
Wednesday March 29, 2006
Women diagnosed with cervical cancer are usually treated with a hysterectomy, and possible chemotherapy and radiation depending on the stage. The surgery alone leave a woman infertile, unable to have children. This can be emotionally devastating to women who desire to have children. Can you imagine being told that you have cancer and that you can't have children? It's a double blow to the heart.
There is hope! There is a surgery called a trachelectomy, that can preserve most of the womb for early stage cervical cancer patients. The cervical cancer is normally stage I, and has not spread.
The problem is that only a few doctors are performing this surgery. Removing the cancer is the number one priority of any cancer treatment, but if we can preserve fertility and still remove cancer effectively, more doctors should jump on board.
What Women Need to Know About Cervical Cancer:
There is hope! There is a surgery called a trachelectomy, that can preserve most of the womb for early stage cervical cancer patients. The cervical cancer is normally stage I, and has not spread.
The problem is that only a few doctors are performing this surgery. Removing the cancer is the number one priority of any cancer treatment, but if we can preserve fertility and still remove cancer effectively, more doctors should jump on board.
What Women Need to Know About Cervical Cancer:
Comments
I had cervical cancer in 2001 and had a cervical trachelectomy in Canada by Dr. Marie Plante, I now have 2 children (by c section) with no problems conceiving. My dr. in nyc wanted to do a full hysterectomy and said I had stage 2- luckily I sent my biopsy slides around, researched the new surgery, fought ny state health insurance and got coverage that saved my fertility. You are your best health advocate. Keep in mind surgery is part of a business and you are a customer as well as a patient.