How is gestational trophoblastic disease treated?
Every patient at Miami Cancer Institute receives a personalized treatment plan put together by our team of gynecologic oncologists.
Our philosophy is to find the plan that not only treats the cancer, but also fits you as a patient. Your team will consider your specific diagnosis and type of tumor, the stage of disease, size and location of tumor and whether it has spread to other parts of your body. We also work closely with physical therapists, nurses, nutritionists and psychosocial experts to ensure we address any potential side effects of treatment.
Surgery is the first step in treating GTD. If the tumor is only in the uterus and has not spread, your surgeon will perform a procedure called dilation and curettage (D&C) to remove the tumor and any suspicious tissue.
During D&C, your doctor will use an instrument to widen (dilate) the cervix and then use a spoon-shaped instrument (curette) to scrape the lining of the uterus and cervical canal, removing the tumor and suspicious tissue.
In some cases, a woman may undergo surgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy) if she has completed childbearing.
In many cases, your gynecologic oncologists may be able to perform a hysterectomy with minimally invasive or robotic methods. As leaders in gynecologic cancer surgery, Miami Cancer Institute has one of the largest minimally invasive gynecologic surgical programs in the region. The Institute also holds a designation as a center of excellence in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery by the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL).
Miami Cancer Institute also takes a multi-specialty approach to gynecologic surgeries, and your care team will collaborate with surgery specialists from different treatment areas to help create a comprehensive care plan for you.
After surgery for GTD, our experts will help you through enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), a nationally recognized recovery method that allows patients to heal faster with less pain. This method, which avoids the use of narcotics, involves a cross-team approach between your nurses and anesthesiologists.
If the GTD has spread beyond the uterus, your care team may also decide to use chemotherapy to treat your disease
