By Sandra Ray, Staff Writer
Radiation therapy is generally only helpful in
treatment if the cancer is still confined to a
relatively small area, like the ovaries. Once the
cancer begins to spread to other organs, radiation
therapy loses its effectiveness since it cannot be
sufficiently targeted to help kill the cancer cells.
Role of Clinical Trials in Follow-up
Care:
Because of the relatively small window for
effective detection and treatment of ovarian cancer,
doctors regularly recommend that women enroll in a
clinical trial for follow-up care. Women can help
advance the science of treating ovarian cancer
at any stage of the disease. Even when the disease
advances into the third and fourth stages where
traditional treatment methods fail, it is still
possible to learn from women in these categories so
that further clinical advancements can be made.
Dr. Don Dizon, FACP, Assistance Professor, OB/GYN
& Medicine at Brown Medical School notes, “Many of
the advances in the treatment of ovarian cancer
would not be possible if not for the women who
participate in clinical trials. Whether they joined
the trials before cancer was detected and taught
physicians what to search for or after their cancer
was in the treatment stages, doctors could still
learn a great deal from them.”
Dizon leads several clinical trials, each in
different areas since there are many fruitful
avenues for medical exploration in ovarian cancer.
Some of these areas include immunotherapy or ways to
use the immune system to combat and treat ovarian
cancer; quality of life studies for women who are
completing treatment; and novel therapeutics for
early detection of ovarian cancer. Dizon says, “When
ovarian cancer reaches the abdomen, something about
the environment there allows it to spread quickly to
other parts of the body. Research studies are
looking at the effectiveness of applying
chemotherapy directly to the abdomen as a method of
treatment.” These are only some of the reasons that
Dizon recommends that even healthy women get
involved in clinical trials.
As far as prevention and early treatment, Dizon
notes that there are several trials out there aimed
at blood profiling that will hopefully give doctors
useful tools for finding ovarian cancer at even
earlier stages. Dizon also notes with irony that one
of the best methods for preventing ovarian cancer
could put women at increased risk for developing
breast cancer later. “Without removing the ovaries –
one of the only ways known to almost fully prevent
ovarian cancer – birth control pills remain one of
the best ways to reduce a woman’s risk of developing
ovarian cancer. Still, women must weigh the
increased risk of breast cancer if they choose this
mechanism of prevention.”
Ovarian cancer can and does recur. For this
reason, five year survival rates are lower than
researchers like when managing a deadly disease. The
cancer may not all be removed during the first
treatment and could have spread undetected to other
areas of the body. Another reason many doctors
advocate participation in clinical trials is the
possibility of recurrence. Women and caregivers need
to be prepared for this possibility when first
beginning to look at treatment options and follow-up
care.
Caregiver Role:
Caregivers play an important role in the
treatment of ovarian cancer. While it may be
difficult to discuss, it is important to maintain
open lines of communication with family, friends,
and others who may be supportive during this time.
In addition, caregivers can help relay information
to physicians that may seem insignificant to the
patient, yet could give important details about what
is happening at home as a result of treatment.
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