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Prevention and new developments in the treatment of cervical cancer

29. 1. 2018

The month of January has been declared International Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Therefore, in the following article we would like to inform you about the new developments in the treatment of this disease. In the Czech Republic, more than 800 women fall ill with cervical cancer every year, and the Pardubice Region ranks a sad third in the incidence of the disease. According to data from the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic, more than 40% of patients die from this disease every year. Unfortunately, all of these deaths could have been prevented with an appropriate approach on the part of women.

The most important role in the prevention and early detection of the disease is clearly played by regular gynaecological examinations. The gynaecologist can not only carry out a clinical examination, but also detect the presence of infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a major contributor to the development of the tumour, by means of a preventive cervical smear. Vaccination can also help to reduce the risk of the disease, but vaccines do not protect against all types of the virus and are particularly suitable for women and girls who have not yet started their sexual lives.

"Early stages can be successfully treated, so early diagnosis is very important. The later the gynaecologist detects the tumour, the more difficult the treatment is and unfortunately it is less successful," says Vít Ulrych, MD.

Women after the age of 40 are most at risk. Unfortunately, more than 1/3 of women come to the doctor with advanced or inoperable disease. The Multiscan Oncology Centre, which is part of the Comprehensive Oncology Centre of the Pardubice Region, introduced a highly specialised technique of three-dimensional planning of internal radiation (brachytherapy) for these women 10 years ago as the first workplace in the Czech Republic.

"This technology significantly improves survival even in women with some inoperable tumours and has now become a globally recommended procedure. This is why we are currently further upgrading the equipment and installing MRI directly in the radiation room. This is a completely unique solution in the Czech Republic, which is comparable only with the most advanced oncological workplaces in the world," says the head of radiotherapy doc. MUDr. Martin Doležel, Ph.D.

Nevertheless, all doctors, and oncologists in particular, would certainly like to see this modern equipment used as little as possible thanks to improved prevention.