Hysterectomy: A safe treatment option for women with cervical cancer, says study

A simple hysterectomy, a surgical procedure where the uterus and cervix are removed, is a safe treatment option that can prolong life for women with early-stage, low-risk cervical cancer, according to the results of a phase III clinical trial. can improve quality.

A simple hysterectomy resulted in similar results in terms of keeping them cancer-free, compared to standard radical hysterectomy, which removes the uterus, cervix, upper part of the vagina and other surrounding tissue, the study said. .

Because radical hysterectomy is a more complex surgery, it is associated with more acute and long-term side effects as well as potential effects on patients’ quality of life and sexual health.

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“Sexual health and quality of life are very important considerations for patients undergoing cancer treatment,” said Dr. Lori Brotto, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of British Columbia.

“The findings of this study suggest that patients can expect less negative impact on sexual health and many other aspects of quality of life with simple hysterectomy, while the effects on recurrence and survival rates are not compromised,” Brotto said. Said.

The study looked at three-year pelvic recurrence rates and other health outcomes in 700 patients from 12 countries who were getting both simple and radical hysterectomies.

The findings, presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, showed that extra-pelvic recurrence-free survival, relapse-free survival and overall survival were comparable between the two groups.

The simple hysterectomy group had fewer intraoperative urological surgical complications and fewer immediate and long-term bladder problems. Several aspects of quality of life, such as body image, pain and sexual health, were consistently more favorable among them.

“These results are important because it shows, for the first time, that a simple hysterectomy is a safe option for women who have been carefully selected to have early-stage low-risk cervical cancer,” Dr. Mary Plante, study leader and a gynecologic oncologist. at the University Laval in Quebec.

“This trial will potentially be practice-changing, with the new standard of care for patients with low-risk disease being a simple hysterectomy rather than a radical hysterectomy.”

Worldwide, cervical cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fourth most common cause of cancer death in women. According to the team, about 44 percent of women diagnosed with cervical cancer are diagnosed with early-stage disease, of whom a significant proportion will meet low-risk criteria. When detected at an early stage, the 5-year relative survival rate for invasive cervical cancer is 92 percent.