Identifying the informational needs, challenges, and opportunities to improve quality of life for women with ovarian cancer at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa
Ovarian cancer is the third most prevalent gynaecological cancer in South Africa, preceded by cervical and uterine cancer. It has the highest case-fatality ratio of all cancers in women, as most present with advanced disease and a poor five-year prognosis. The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Cancer Observatory estimates the incidence to rise worldwide, with the highest increase in developing countries. This translates to an estimated increase of 72.9% in cases in South Africa by 2050.
Exploring the experiences of informal primary caregivers of women with advanced or terminal gynaecological cancer in a low-resource setting during the COVID-19 pandemic
Many women with advanced or terminal gynaecological cancer need consistent support and assistance during their illness trajectory. Informal caregivers often provide patients with physical, emotional, and financial support. They may assist patients by cooking or cleaning for them, providing transport and companionship to medical appointments, or showing care and compassion either verbally or non-verbally. Informal caregivers are often family members such as parents, spouses, siblings, or adult children who care for patients without monetary compensation. They play an important role in South Africa because most of the population seek treatment at public hospitals, where the high disease burden and limited resources such as personnel, beds, and equipment may result in long treatment waiting periods and early discharge from hospitals. As a result, caregivers play a crucial role in helping cancer patients with everyday tasks and care normally administered by healthcare professionals. This includes monitoring the patients' symptoms and side effects, and administering medication when needed.
Endometrial carcinoma diagnosis in the molecular era: a review and new considerations for low- to middle-income countries
Worldwide, endometrial carcinoma (EC) is the fourth most common gynaecological malignancy, with increasing incidences attributed to increasing obesity and sedentary lifestyles, along with other known risk factors, such as metabolic syndrome and ovarian dysfunction. Mortality rates are higher in African Americans compared to white populations in countries like the United States of America.
Novel use of the Bakri® postpartum balloon in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia with bleeding vaginal metastatic lesions refractory to conventional treatment modalities
Gestational trophoblastic disease is an umbrella term used to describe an abnormal pregnancy state ranging from premalignant lesions, partial hydatidiform mole (PHM) and complete hydatidiform mole (CHM), to malignant lesions such as invasive mole, choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumours (PSTT), and epithelioid trophoblastic tumours (ETT). Malignant lesions are grouped under the term gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). Disease severity is staged according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system that utilises the site of metastases and scored according to the World Health Organization’s scoring system that incorporates eight prognostic variables.
High-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: a case report – an atypical presentation with salient features to the suspicious clinician
Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a term used to describe malignant lesions arising from placental trophoblastic cells with the secretion of persistent amounts of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).1 GTN includes malignant forms, such as persistent mole, invasive mole, choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumour, and epithelioid trophoblastic tumour.