Preliminary studies suggest that women with obesity and endometrial cancer who lose weight before surgery are already expected to change their standard treatment due to fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.
Sophia Ping, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Alberta and a doctor at the Cross Cancer Institute and Royal Alexandra Hospital, found in previous studies that weight loss prior to treatment for other types of surgery resulted in both surgery and patients. Explained complications that have been shown to decrease.
“We wanted to see if preoperative weight loss for endometrial cancer could also affect the incidence of complications,” said Pin.
“Our preliminary results are so convincing that the Royce Hall Women’s Hospital is now a preoperative weight loss clinic for all women with a new diagnosis of endometrial cancer and an obesity index of over 40. Introduced to. “
Endometrial cancer, also known as uterine cancer, is the fourth most common cancer in women. It is also often associated with obesity due to hormonal changes, such as an increase in estrogen, which affects the endometrium.
Over 50% of endometrial cancers are associated with obesity, and women with a BMI greater than 25 are 2-4 times more likely to develop uterine cancer than women with a low BMI.
Minimally invasive surgery, which has been shown to reduce blood loss, infection, and all postoperative complications, is the standard of care for this type of cancer and usually leads to cure. However, Pin explained that obesity is an important issue for survival of endometrial cancer.
“Obesity women are at increased risk of complications both during and after surgery,” said Pin, who is also a member of the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI). “In addition to the challenges of anesthesia and ventilator, reduced surgical visualization does not always allow minimally invasive surgery, which also increases the risk of complications and mortality. To do.”
Ping has been working with women with a BMI of> 40 for either precancerous or low-grade endometrial cancer for over a year. These women are referred to a preoperative weight loss clinic for 3-6 months prior to surgery. Strategies or weight loss medications are used to support weight loss.
“We look at measurable results before, during and after surgery to evaluate the patient’s experience and satisfaction, and the maintenance of weight loss,” said Pin.
She is in the middle of a project, but more than 88% of the women surveyed have lost weight, with an average weight loss of 11.5 kilograms (a little over 25 pounds) and one individual losing 29.8 kilograms (nearly 64 pounds). ..
“A year later, we started following up on these women to see how happy they were,” Pin said.
“We want patients to be supported and listened to throughout the process, and not only talking about weight loss, but also giving patients options to manage both weight loss and cancer. I want you to feel that you are providing it. “
Sophia Pin is supported by the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation through WCHRI.
