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Every day, more than 1,200 people around the world are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which has one of the lowest survival rates of this type of disease. But now, a new technique can be a major breakthrough for patients.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive. According to the American Cancer Society, at best, the five-year survival rate is 14%, while, in the worst prognosis, it's only 1%.
Now, the Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona, Spain, is testing an innovative method that can improve this situation. These patients present a specific type of tumor, a locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, inoperable traditional techniques and treated with palliative chemotherapy.
These patients had a specific type of tumor, a locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
An Innovative Technique
The technique involves introducing a needle to apply temperatures up to 80 ° C
Radiofrequency could therefore be an effective alternative to chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer pancreas of adverse prognosis. directly in the tumor site. The high temperature burns the cells.
The needle is also equipped with a cooling system. "In this type of intervention, we use a system that allows for the introduction of fluids that reach areas such as the duodenum to prevent overheating," says surgeon Elizabeth Pando of the US Department of Health. Vall d'Hebron Hospital
. The procedure is already used for other cancers, such as cancers of the liver, kidneys and lungs, but has never been applied to the pancreas. "The study goes beyond this barrier," says Pando.
Up to now, it has been badessed that radiofrequency could not be used against pancreatic cancer. The risk would be very high considering the location of the tumor, surrounded by arteries and larger veins. ” clbad=”img img-responsive image-large”/>
If good results are confirmed, from 2020 or 2012, the procedure may become an option for patients who can not undergo surgery
"I had six months"
It is estimated that about 40% of pancreatic cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Patients survive on average eight months after diagnosis.
After diagnosis, only 20% of these tumors can be operated on. One of the radiofrequency patients in Spain is María José del Valle, who was with the doctors last week for a presentation of the results of the first interventions.
The patient is a doctor and was at home with friends when she realized that her arm was yellow. After exams, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
It was proposed to participate in the clinical study. To reporters, he stated that he had signed the term in which he agreed to be included in the search "without reading it". He had two months of chemotherapy before undergoing further surgery.
"I knew the survival rate was low, they had given me six months to live." Now, she says her health is "phenomenal".
Up to now, this technique was only used in stable patients after a few months of chemotherapy.
"If it turns out that this therapy is effective against locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma, we will finally have a technique for a better prognosis for this malignancy," concludes Dr. Ramón Charco. .
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