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A revolutionary procedure combining two surgeries has assisted four women in the UK in both delivering a child and reducing their chances of developing cancer.
The groundbreaking procedure conducted at University College London Hospital involved combining the standard Caesarean delivery with surgery for ovarian cancer.
The procedure consisted of extracting the ovaries and fallopian tubes during the four women’s C-section deliveries, in order to decrease their chances of developing ovarian cancer in the future.
The revolutionary surgeries were conducted during the period of 1 March 2018 to 31 March 2022 on females who were 35 years or older.
A recent study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology on Thursday revealed previously unreported surgeries.
Physicians, including professor Adam Rosenthal who conducted the operation, stated that the four females possessed a genetic alteration that increased their risk for developing ovarian cancer later on.
Unfortunately, ovarian cancer continues to be the deadliest form of cancer for women, as treatments are often unsuccessful due to the disease being detected in its advanced stages.
Changes in the BRCA gene have been linked to approximately 15% of ovarian cancer cases.
Earlier research has indicated that one effective strategy for reducing deaths caused by this form of cancer is to recognize individuals with a hereditary inclination and carry out a procedure known as risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO).
Research has demonstrated that RRSO can decrease the risk of ovarian cancer by a minimum of 90%.
According to medical professionals, one difficulty of performing a joint procedure of RRSO and C-section is the potential for increased blood loss.
The newest research discusses four women who possessed genetic mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes and underwent a groundbreaking procedure involving both a C-section and RRSO with success.
The four women who received the innovative operation reported being “extremely content” with the surgery between 11 and 59 months later.
The researchers stated that carrying out this integrated procedure during a scheduled Caesarean delivery can also result in cost savings as a separate surgery is not required.
“We recommend considering the possibility of combined RRSO and cesarean delivery for all pregnant individuals with BRCA who require a C-section and have completed childbearing. This should be discussed with patients, weighing the pros and cons, and taken into consideration when they are of appropriate age for RRSO,” the authors stated.
Source: independent.co.uk
