Treating Cervical Cancer at Wattanosoth Hospital

by Bangkok Hospital Medical Center

Cervical Cancer is the most common cancer found in Thai women and women in developing country. Those in lower social groups are more at risk. Luckily about 80% of cervical cancer can be prevented, provided an annual pelvic examination is taken to check for abnormal cells. Laurence Civil recently met with Dr. Viruch Charoeniam, Gynecological Oncologist, Wattanosoth Hospital.

“Women who are sexually active before the age of 18 years old are most likely to be at risk due to tissue damage allowing the infection to enter the body,” says Dr Viruch. “Likewise those who have had multiple sex partners; those who have only had one sex partner but he had multiple sex partners; those who smoke and anyone who have continuously taken oral contraception for a period of more than five years.”

He explained that cervical cancer can’t be prevented but research suggests that sexual activity and the physical effect of giving birth has on the body increases the risk.

“At puberty the columnar cells in the cervix change to squamous cells” he say ” This is the normal process in healthy women, however if they are infected with HPV it becomes pathological and the cells become premalignant. This is precancerous lesions which are medically called CIN(Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or dysplasia ). These precancerous cells can progress to cancer, which usually occure approximately 3-5 years after high grade lesion .”

There are three stages in the development of CIN. At the first stage, clinically known as CIN1 the abnormal cells are no more than 1/3 of thickness of cervix covering. It is usual that the area is also infected with the wart virus. 50 – 80 % of women with grade 1 disease will normally recover if there body has strong immunity.

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Choosing an International Medical Provider: Making a List and Checking It Twice

by PlacidWay

When looking for medical providers abroad, a multitude of factors and considerations need to be addressed by each individual. Assessing the services, benefits, and drawbacks of any specific provider need to be fully researched by a medical tourist in order to gauge the quality of services and effectiveness of treatments. Medical travelers also need to take into consideration such things as location, services rendered, and patient care, post-op support and follow-up.

When looking for medical providers abroad, some of the first questions an individual may want answered include:

• Convenience – where is the facility located?  How will I get there?
• Customized services – will the facility be able to meet my specific needs?
• Acknowledging risks – what are the risks involved not only traveling to this destination, but of my specific surgical procedure or treatment? Is staff at this facility open and honest about all potential risks of such procedures or treatments?
• Providing unique solutions – will the facility be able to cater their services to meet my specific needs?
• Are they open to the prospect of working with me to solve my particular problem or issue?
• Quality of service – is this facility accredited and approved not only according to their country’s accreditation levels, but also by international accreditation facilities such as JCI (Joint Commission International)?
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Cancer Treatment Abroad

Cancer Treatments Overview
Cancer can strike any gender or age group. Depending on the cancer type, various cancer treatments may be initiated in an effort to eradicate or kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy treatment, radiotherapy treatment, and breast cancer surgery are the most common types of treatments that battle multiple forms of cancer. However, cancer treatments vary according to the stage of cancer is discovered, as well as location and overall health of the patient. Cancer staging is typically defined as Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3 and Stage 4, ranging from early and localized to those that have spread throughout the body.

Cancer Treatments
Depending on the cancer types discovered, physicians will determine which options or alternative cancer treatments are best in every situation.  In some cases, a patient may have a choice of procedures or treatments, while other times, they will not. Certain factors will determine which treatment will provide optimal results, including what type of cancer tumor, what organs or tissues are affected, as well as what stage of cancer is in. The earlier the stage of cancer treatment development, the better for treatment prognosis. Overall health and age may also factor in to cancer treatment plans.

Chemotherapy involves the use of medications to attack and kill cancer cells. Many people experience side effects such as hair loss, nausea, and weight loss with chemotherapy treatment. However, new advancements in medications have helped to reduce many of the side effects formerly associated with chemotherapy radiotherapy. This type of treatment is used when cancer has metastasized, or spread to other areas within the body. In many cases, it is used in conjunction with cancer surgery and radiation therapy treatment. In most cases, chemotherapy radiotherapy will be initiated after surgery of cancer has removed the cancer tumor or tissues from the body.

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Choosing an International Medical Provider: Making a List and Checking It Twice

When looking for medical providers abroad, a multitude of factors and considerations need to be addressed by each individual. Assessing the services, benefits, and drawbacks of any specific provider need to be fully researched by a medical tourist in order to gauge the quality of services and effectiveness of treatments. Medical travelers also need to take into consideration such things as location, services rendered, and patient care, post-op support and follow-up.

When looking for medical providers abroad, some of the first questions an individual may want answered include:

• Convenience – where is the facility located?  How will I get there?
• Customized services – will the facility be able to meet my specific needs?
• Acknowledging risks – what are the risks involved not only traveling to this destination, but of my specific surgical procedure or treatment? Is staff at this facility open and honest about all potential risks of such procedures or treatments?
• Providing unique solutions – will the facility be able to cater their services to meet my specific needs?
• Are they open to the prospect of working with me to solve my particular problem or issue?
• Quality of service – is this facility accredited and approved not only according to their country’s accreditation levels, but also by international accreditation facilities such as JCI (Joint Commission International)?

The Joint Commission is an American healthcare accreditation organization that evaluates medical facilities based on standards of care. The international branch of the Joint Commission inspects facilities and takes into consideration key factors before offering their “stamp of approval”.  Such considerations include but are not limited to:

• Medical staff credentials and training
• Nursing staff credentials and training
• Medication Management
• Infection Control
• Environment of Care
• Patient Rights
• Provision of Care Treatment Services

Read the complete article on Medical Tourism Abroad