Gestational Trophoblastic Tum... Health Article

Clinical trials

Researchers throughout the United States are currently investigating the following concerns:

• How effective are certain chemotherapy drugs in treating GTT that has not responded to other therapies or that has recurred after treatment?
• At what dosages do specific chemotherapy drugs become toxic?
• How does the frequency of chemotherapy treatments affect a patient's prognosis?
• What is the relationship between the start of chemotherapy and an immediate drop in a patient's HCG levels?

Prevention

The cause of GTT is not known, but the risk is higher than normal for a woman who belongs to blood group A and whose partner belongs to blood group O.

Special concerns

Medical oncologists emphasize the importance of the following treatment factors:

• Chemotherapy should be started as early in the course of the disease as possible.
• Chemotherapy should be administered every 14 to 21 days until HCG blood levels drop to normal.
• High-risk patients should be treated with combination chemotherapy regardless of the stage of their disease.
• Monthly blood tests should be continued for one year after HCG levels drop to normal.
• A woman who has been treated for GTT should wait at least a year before becoming pregnant and see her doctor as soon as she becomes or thinks she might be pregnant.

Resources

BOOKS

DeVita, Vincent T. Jr., et al, eds. Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology, 5th ed. Philadelphia: Lippinott-Raven, 1997, pp. 1499-1501.

Kirkwood, John M., et al, eds. Current Cancer Therapeutics, 3rd ed. Philadelphia:Current Medicine, Inc., 1998, pp. 252-254.

ORGANIZATIONS

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 40912th St. SW, PO Box 96920, Washington, DC 20090-6920. (202) 863-2518. <http://www.acog.org>.

National Cancer Institute. 31 Center Dr., MSC 2580, Bethesda, MD 20892-2580. (800) 4-CANCER. <http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov>.

OTHER

"Gestational Trophoblastic Disease." American Cancer Society.27 March 2000. 5 July 2001. <http://www3.cancer.org/cancerinfo/load_cont.asp?st=ds&ct=49>.

"Gestational Trophoblastic Disease." OBGYN.net Publications.2001. 3 July 2001. <http://www.obgyn.net/women/articles/rich/gest.htm>.

"Gestational Trophoblastic Tumor." National Cancer Institute. May 2001. 3 July 2001. <http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/cancer_Types/Gestational_Trophoblastic_Tumor.shtml>.

Maureen Haggerty

Ectopic pregnancy

—An abnormal pregnancy in which the fertilized egg becomes implanted outside the uterus.

Ovarian cyst

—A fluid-filled or semi-solid sac that may be painful or malignant.

Placenta

—The organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy and connects the mother's blood supply with the baby.

Remission

—Disappearance or lessening of symptoms.

Salvage surgery

—An operation used to treat a patient who has not responded to any other therapy.

Systemic

—Affecting the whole body.

Toxemia

—An abnormal pregnancy-related condition characterized by high blood pressure, swelling and fluid retention, and proteins in the urine.

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE DOCTOR

• What should I do if I am not sure my pregnancy is proceeding normally?
• Why is it important for me to see my doctor as soon as I realize something might be wrong?
• Will GTT affect my ability to have other children?
• Why must I wait so long before becoming pregnant?