Doctors have announced a huge leap forward in the treatment of cervical cancer. A new treatment plan, considered “remarkable”, reduces mortality by 40%. This is the biggest achievement in the last 25 years, according to The Guardian.
The discovery of a new treatment that can reduce cervical cancer by 40%. Photo: Shutterstock.
Cervical cancer is a major global health problem, being the fourth most common type of cancer in women. Annually, approximately 660,000 women are diagnosed with this disease, and 350,000 die from it, according to the WHO. Many of these cases occur in women around 30 years of age, and disease recurrence remains a major challenge, affecting 30% of patients.
An international clinical trial, carried out over the course of a decade, evaluated the effectiveness of a new therapeutic regimen for cervical cancer. The protocol included a short period of chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy and was tested on a diverse group of patients from the UK, Mexico, India, Italy and Brazil.
A major clinical trial, led by University College London, has demonstrated a significant improvement in the survival of cervical cancer patients. The results, published in the prestigious Lancet journal, show a 40% reduction in the risk of death and a 35% decrease in disease recurrence over a period of at least five years.
According to Professor Mary McCormack, lead researcher of the study, this discovery marks a real revolution in the treatment of cervical cancer. “This is the biggest advance in disease survival since the introduction of chemoradiotherapy in 1999,” she stated.
Abbie Halls, diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 27, is a living example of the success of this new treatment. “I’ve been cancer free for over nine years and I’m not sure I’d be here without the treatment I received.” the woman stated. “I’m happy to have been able to play a part in advancing research that I hope will save many more women’s lives in the years to come.”
