surgery

New Delhi, Apr 2 (UNI) New techniques of surgery coupled with advancements in imaging could bring a big relief for women suffering from cervical cancer by preserving fertility even after removal of cervix.

Oncologists participating in the two-day International Conference RGCON'07 on 'Cervical Cancer--Current Management and Future Direction' organised by the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre discussed the latest scientific techniques of early detection of cervical cancer.

Every year nearly 4,93,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer world wide of which about 80 per cent occur in developing countries. The incidence of cervical cancer are two fold higher in developing countries as compared to developed nations.

In India, cancer of cervix is the most common cancer. In India every year about eight lakh to ten lakh new cancer patients are diagnosed annually.

However, improving living standards and access to health cares have reduced the incidence in few states like Kerala and cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

''About 80 per cent cases of cervical cancer occur in developing countries and 60 per cent of these are locally advanced disease. In early stages, surgery treatment and radiation yeild equal results.

However, radiation therapy is the main treatment for cervical cancer and about 80 per cent to 90 per cent patients receive radiation therapy during treatment,'' said Dr K A Dinshaw, Director of Tata Memorial Hospital.

Management of cervical cancer has undergone considerable change over the past decade. Significant technological advancement in imaging, namely MRI and CT-PET has provided the opportunity to better define the extent of disease. It has led to development of 'Image based Brachytherapy' and 'Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy' to achieve higher dose to tumour defined as 'high risk clinical target volume' and less dose to surrounding critical organs like small bowel, rectum, sigma and bladder.

These advancements are beginning to show results in the form of better local control and lesser toxicity, according to Dr Richard Potter, Professor at University of Vienna.

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