When we think of “uterine cancer”, we most often imagine cervical cancer and much more rarely that which affects the wall of the uterus, called the endometrium. However, the endometrial cancer is the 4th cause of cancer in women in France and it is the most common gynecological cancer, after breast cancer.
Good news for the more than 8,000 women who are diagnosed with endometrial cancer each year: the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) just announced that the drug Jemperli (dostarlimab) is available for early access to women with newly diagnosed or recurrent advanced endometrial cancer.
Dostarlimab: who will have access to this treatment?
“This provision follows the early access authorization decision granted on September 27, 2023 by the High Authority for Health (HAS) for a period of 12 months, following the opinion of the ANSM. this is in favor of a strong presumption of effectiveness and safety of Jemperli in this indication.
More specifically, the drug Jemperli is indicated in combination with chemotherapy based on platinum salts in patients over 18 years of age:
- Suffering from endometrial cancer
- Candidates for systemic treatment (that is to say which has an action on the whole body).
Only oncology specialists and doctors competent in oncology will be able to prescribe this medication already tested against colon cancer. They will then give the patient a “patient card” which she must keep for the duration of her treatment.
This patient card details what to do in the event of symptoms that could indicate adverse effects of immunological origin. These effects can in fact appear at any time, during and after treatment.
Endometrial cancer: what are the symptoms?
Endometrial cancer usually affects women after menopause but although unusual, it can also affect younger women. As the National Cancer Institute points out, endometrial cancer is associated with several risk factors including obesity, diabetes or treatment with tamoxifen.
Its main symptoms:
- Bleeding after menopause
- Bleeding between periods
- Bleeding after sex
- Heavy and irregular periods
- A watery or bloody vaginal discharge
In Great Britain, a cancer organization wanted to remind women of the importance of regular gynecological screening for endometrial cancer. “Because the earlier this cancer is detected, the better the diagnosis.” underlines Athena Lamnisos, head of this organization (the Eve appeal) in an interview with the BBC.
In France, the number of endometrial cancers diagnosed each year is estimated at around 8,200.
We cannot share this enough!
There are FIVE gynae cancers:
WOMB | OVARIAN | CERVICAL | VULVAL | VAGINALTo all our new followers- read this and share. For everyone else – here is your revision! pic.twitter.com/rmI2lRpWpC
— The Eve Appeal ❤️ (@eveappeal) October 10, 2023
