Bevacizumab (Altuzan) Is Effective in Advanced Cervical (Uterine Cervix) Cancer

According to statistics from 2020, cervical cancer is the 4. most common type of cancer worldwide and ranks 4. among cancer-related deaths in women. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, approximately 570.000 new cervical cancer cases are diagnosed each year, and 311.000 women die from this cause. The high level of these figures emphasizes the importance of cervical cancer. However, it is also known that this cancer is preventable through early diagnosis and treatment methods. Cervical cancer can be prevented through regular screening tests and vaccinations.

Thanks to regular medical checkups, cervical cancer is no longer a nightmare for women. After becoming sexually active, women can protect their lives through medical examinations and Pap smear tests, which they should have once every 3 years. Smoking is an important risk factor for cervical cancer. In addition, statistics show that it is common among women with sexually transmitted diseases, women who have sexual intercourse at an early age, women with multiple sexual partners, and women of low socioeconomic status.

When diagnosed at an early stage, cervical cancer has commonly observed symptoms such as abnormal spotting-like vaginal bleeding, bleeding after sexual intercourse, foul-smelling discharge, discharge with the consistency of meat-washing water, genital itching, and burning. Cervical cancer has the characteristic of causing symptoms in its early stages, and its diagnosis can be made easily through a gynecological examination and a Pap smear test. When detected and treated at an early stage, the success rate is %80-85. Today, cervical cancer is no longer among the most frightening types of cancer and has moved away from being a fatal disease.

Considering the importance of early diagnosis, we have learned that we have a stronger treatment option for advanced cervical cancer. The drug called bevacizumab is used as an antibody in cancer treatment. As tumor cells proliferate uncontrollably, their need for oxygen and nutrients increases. Bevacizumab prevents tumor growth by recognizing and blocking the signal for the formation of blood vessels necessary for tumor growth. A study found that, in advanced cases, the bevacizumab-chemotherapy combination prolonged survival compared with chemotherapy alone. However, it was determined that patients using bevacizumab experienced more side effects.

The World Health Organization (WHO) currently estimates that more than 2 million women worldwide have cervical cancer and that more than 650` women die from cervical cancer every day. Each year, 490 thousand new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed, meaning more than 1300` new cases per day. Cervical cancer most commonly affects women in the 35-55 age group. However, the age at which the disease occurs is gradually decreasing, and women in the 20-30 age group are also developing this disease. We have now learned that we have a stronger treatment option for advanced cervical cancer. Of course, an approval process will be required for our patients in our country to use this drug directly for cervical cancer. However, I believe that access to this drug will also be possible, when necessary, through off-label applications to the Ministry of Health. It is extremely important for patients to discuss treatment options with the physicians monitoring them and to continue with the treatment method their physicians have selected as the most appropriate for them.