Cancer in Women: Trends in Care

Abstract

Breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer are neoplastic diseases of primary concern to women. Breast cancer alone will afflict up to 12% of all women. Early detection and treatment of this disease can account for relatively stable mortality rates in the face of increased incidence. Identification of prognostic factors as well as extensive staging of the disease have been important developments in identifying treatment strategies for breast cancer. Advancements in early detection, breast-conserving surgery, and adjuvant systemic therapy have had a major impact on the treatment of this disease. The principle treatment for both ovarian cancer and cervical cancer is surgery. A large number of patients with ovarian cancer have evidence of metastatic intra-abdominal disease at the time of staging laparotomy. These patients are candidates for chemotherapy, generally with cisplatin- or carboplatin-containing regimens. Intraperitoneal administration of chemotherapy drugs has been used to consolidate therapy or to treat residual therapy in the abdomen. Further development of new and effective drugs such as the new compound Taxol (Bristol-Meyers Squibb) are needed to further enhance the treatment of this disease. Cervical cancer, on the other hand, is largely curative by surgical procedures. Early detection and treatment has had a major impact on the mortality incidence of this disease. However, there are a small number of patients who have metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis or a small subset of patients who fail to respond to curative surgery. These patients are likewise candidates for chemotherapy. The activity of existing regimens has been limited, and there is a need for the identification and development of more active compounds.