Having a cancer diagnosis young age can be a very emotional experience, particularly with concerns about your chances of conceiving a child in the future and becoming a mother. The fear of losing the ability to have children can cause as much distress to many young women suffering from gynaecological cancers as does receiving the initial diagnosis.
Due to advancements in fertility-sparing robotic surgery, it is now possible to successfully treat selected types of gynaecological cancers while still providing a woman with the option to conceive. Dr Priyanka Batra, is an expert in the area of medical oncologic treatments related to gynaecological reproductive health issues, and utilising robotic surgery techniques in the treatment of gynaecological cancers, will provide expert insight on how modern, cutting-edge surgical technologies are helping to provide simple and easy ways for young women battling cancer to have a much greater chance of having a successful future beyond their fight to survive.
What is Fertility Preservation in Gynaecological Cancer?
Preserving fertility means utilizing Medical/surgical techniques that would allow a patient to maintain their ability to reproduce even though they may be receiving surgery/radiation/chemotherapy treatments for cancer. When performed in very specific patient populations, robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) has been shown to allow surgeons to surgically remove the cancerous tissue with an extremely high degree of accuracy while still being able to spare the uterus, ovaries, or other reproductive organs from traumatic damage. Dr Priyanka Batra states that fertility-sparing treatments are now commonplace. As such, they provide a key aspect of individualised treatment for women who have gynaecological cancers.
When is it suitable to perform Fertility-Preserving Surgery?
- The cervix can be removed using robotic radical trachelectomy, which also permits the preservation of the uterus and possible future pregnancies in women who qualify for this procedure.
- Conservative surgical procedures with hormonal therapy under strict observation may be employed for selected early-stage, low-grade patients wishing to preserve fertility.
- For patients with unilateral early-stage ovarian cancer, robotic fertility-sparing surgery may allow for the preservation of the normal ovary/uterus while still ensuring oncological safety. Dr Priyanka Batra stresses the significance of paediatric patients being assessed individually to agree on a balance between oncological safety and fertility desires.
Is it safe to perform Fertility-Preserving Robotic Surgery?
- Safety will always be a major focus. Only when strict adherence to oncological principles is followed can fertility preservation surgeries using robotics be considered safe.
- It includes comprehensive Staging Of Cancer and advanced Imaging and Pathology Review
- Additionally, multidisciplinary Consultation as per requirement and detailed explanation of benefits, risks, and alternatives are another positive impact.
- Also, long-term follow-up and monitoring are an integral part of this surgery, which offers numerous benefits to patients.
Anxiety related to body image, pre-existing relationships, and future family planning affects numerous young women diagnosed with gynaecological cancers. These young women can benefit from psychological reassurance and improved quality of life throughout and beyond their cancer treatment when offered the option of preserving their fertility through medical intervention.
According to Dr Priyanka Batra, conversations about fertility should always be a conversation that is expected to take place regularly throughout the period of receiving cancer treatment; it should not be an extra thought after you have started receiving treatment for your cancer. There has been a major shift in cancer treatment away from focusing on survival to focusing on quality of life (including future goals) and patient preferences. Young women diagnosed with gynaecological cancers can now access an advanced treatment option through fertility-conserving robotic surgery.
Through her extensive training and experience in performing advanced robotic gynecologic oncology procedures, Dr Priyanka Batra dedicates herself to providing safe, compassionate, individualised cancer treatment so that younger patients battling cancer can have hope of still achieving their dreams of motherhood.