The formula that can curb the deadliest female cancer

Is he deadliest cancer for the female population and every year 3,300 new cases are registered in our country. It happened to Iron Charo, president of the Association of Women Affected by Ovarian and Gynecological Cancer (ASACO), of which she has been president since 2016 and which has just celebrated her 10th anniversary. And everyone remembers that it also happened to Sara Carbonero.

Speaking to El Confidencial, Charo relates: “I was diagnosed in October 2010, at age 55. Fortunately, I have had no relapses. I do not have a family history either, the BRCA mutation did not appear in the analysis, so it is thought that there is no genetic inheritance “.

“Women do not suspect its possible existence due to the symptoms it presents. Neither do primary care physicians suspect that they are due to gynecological cancer”

The president recalls that “this neoplasm presents some very particular circumstances. It is a great unknown by women and society in general. We do not suspect its possible existence due to the symptoms it presents. Nor do these signs lead primary care physicians to believe that they are due to gynecological cancer. Rather, it seems that it is a not very serious digestive problem. ”

The symptoms that give it away

Remember that “the most frequent symptoms are abdominal bloating, constipation, diarrhea, feeling of indigestion, lack of appetite, among others. We always say that, if these last for fifteen days, we should go to the doctor or gynecologist and express our concern and suspicion to be able to do the pertinent tests “.

In the world, 295,000 new cases are diagnosed per year and in Spain about 3,600 cases, which represents 5% of all tumors in women. “The incidence has been increasing slowly since the 1960s and can be considered high. It occupies the sixth place, in terms of number, among malignant tumors, behind breast, colon, lung, uterine and lymphoma cancer, “he details.

In the case of ovarian cancer, also called the silent killer, “there is, unfortunately, no system of early detection. This worsens the prognosis of the disease, since, in 80% of cases, they are diagnosed in advanced stages. It is true that having healthy lifestyle habits is always beneficial, go to the gynecological check-ups in a timely manner and do not miss any signs that is not normal is what can help diagnose it. ”

And he adds: “In many cases, this period of delay in a correct diagnosis makes the prognosis of this disease irremediably worse, leading to extreme severity and an increase in the healthcare cost of treatment. This is why one of our main tasks is to give you visibility. Our VIGILAT campaign diffuses those nonspecific symptoms so that the entire population becomes aware of its importance, and calling on family and emergency physicians to suspect these symptoms of the existence of this disease in order to rule it out or be able to diagnose it as soon as possible. We are in contact with the Spanish Ovarian Cancer Research Group (GEICO), the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), the Spanish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SEGO), the Spanish Society of Radiotherapeutic Oncology (SEOR) and a good number of professionals committed to our cause. ”

The treatment

Charo recalls that he overcame it “with surgery, radical hysterectomy and adnexectomy (a surgical procedure to remove one or both adnexa, the structures made up of the ovaries and the tubes that are located on both sides of the uterus in the pelvis), followed by chemotherapy. It is very important that the approach to the disease is carried out by a multidisciplinary team of experts led by a gynecologist-oncologist. Surgery is absolutely key in this type of neoplasia, its prognosis depends on it. We must go to hospitals with all the professionals and equipment necessary for an optimal approach. “

From ASACO, “we offer information and support for any patient or family member who needs it. We also have our Wellness Project, through which we offer psycho-oncological support to patients and their families in order to maintain a good emotional state. We are (341 members) the only national association dedicated to ovarian cancer and, since 2016, we also host the other types of gynecological cancer: vulva, vagina, cervix and uterus-endometrium. We’re also united internationally. We are active members of ENGAGe, a patient platform of the ESGO (European Society of Gynecological Oncology) and the WOCC (World Ovarian Cancer Coalition), as well as other medical societies.

10 years of dedication

Charo is proud of a decade of progress in the association and has celebrated the ‘birthday’ with a scientific-social conference in whose opening act she was accompanied by Maria Dolores Moreno, of the Vice-Ministry of Health Humanization of the Ministry of Health of the Community of Madrid, who valued the work of the association and He recalled that the Madrid Health Service has 12 radiation oncology services and 26 medical oncology, with cutting-edge technological endowments, both for diagnosis and therapy: “We also have family units and inquiriesr in all hospitals with medical oncology for the care of families at risk of developing hereditary cancer “.

“The research institutes and foundations of our centers participate in 76 clinical trials on ovarian cancer, each one being carried out in at least three hospitals”

In addition, he stressed, “the research institutes and foundations of our centers are participating today in 76 clinical trials on ovarian cancer, each of them being carried out in at least three hospitals ”, he pointed out.

The progress

During the scientific block, the Dr. Antonio González Martín, Head of Medical Oncology at the University Clinic of Navarra and President of GEIC; the Dra. Mª Jesús Rubio Pérez, medical oncologist at the Reina Sofía Hospital, and the Dr Lucas Minig, gynecologist oncologist and professor of Gynecology at CEU Cardenal Herrera University, analyzed topics such as research and advances in the last 10 years, biomarkers, achievement of new drugs; multidisciplinary treatment of ovarian cancer and the evidence of its need and surgery, key in the prognosis of ovarian cancer.

Dr. Antonio González Martín highlighted: “In the last 10 years we have seen how the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer has evolved. He advanced first in accuracy and the ability to identify ovarian cancer as five diseases different that require a different approach and approach. We have also advanced in the knowledge of molecular subtypes, that thanks to new treatments have a specific therapy that allows us to start dreaming about change. In fact, we are convinced that the application of these targeted therapies to groups of patients with specific molecular alterations such as PARB inhibitors in patients with BRCA mutation it’s going to have an impact and it’s going to allow many more women to heal. “

For her part, Dr. Mª Jesús Rubio Pérez highlighted the importance of her multidisciplinary treatment. “It must be guaranteed, guarantee comprehensive care for patients with ovarian cancer from diagnosis. These patients must be referred to a hospital where there is a good multidisciplinary team and where the disease is addressed from the beginning, “the expert highlighted.

To conclude the scientific block, Dr. Lucas Minig insisted that “you need an expert in this surgery and a team of specialists to achieve the primary goal of significantly extending disease-free time and survival for patients they are cured and some others live much longer ”. During the event, it was also examined pathology from its social dimension at a table starring patients and relatives from Córdoba, Valencia, Zaragoza and Madrid, in which he spoke about his experience with the pathology and what it has meant to be part of ASACO. This table was moderated by Soledad Bolea, Psycho-oncologist and vice president of the organization, she highlighted issues such as the importance of sharing with people in the same situation and maintaining contact with psycho-oncologists.

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