Gestational Trophoblastic Disease - Treatment
General Introduction
Researchers are always looking for new ways to treat women with gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). The result is there is now more hope for survival than ever before. Treatment of GTD depends on the type it is and the stage it is in. This section will discuss the treatment options for each stage and type.
Factors That Influence Treatment Options
Your treatment choices for GTD depend on:
- the size and location of the tumor
- the results of lab tests
- the stage or extent of the disease spread
- your age and general health
- your wishes about future fertility
There may also be a range of personal issues that affect your decisions about treatment.
Learning all you can about the disease and treatment options will let you take an active part in making decisions about your care. You probably have lots of questions and concerns about your options. You may also be wondering how treatment will affect your ability to function and whether you’ll need to change the way you do things.
Your doctor is the best person to answer your questions. For instance, your doctor can tell you how successful treatment is expected to be. Your doctor can also tell you what the risks and side effects may be, and how much it is likely to cost.
Goals of Treatment
Different types of treatments have different goals. Here is a list of treatments for GTD with their respective goals.
- Surgery. The goal of surgery is to completely remove the primary tumor.
- Radiation therapy. The goal of radiation therapy is to kill cancer cells using x-rays. This treatment can be used to shrink a tumor before surgery. It can also be used to treat a tumor without the need for surgery. Radiation can also be used to get rid of any remaining cancer cells after surgery.
- Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is used when the cancer has spread and local treatments are not enough. It can also be given after surgery if you who have a high risk for distant spread. The goal is to kill any cells that may have spread before the tumor was surgically removed. This form of chemotherapy is called adjuvant therapy.
