Choriocarcinoma Not a Death Sentence

Choriocarcinoma: Not a Death Sentence Renee Oliver-Evers COM/156 March 25, 2012 Raymond Gentry Choriocarcinoma: Not a Death Sentence Choriocarcinoma, or also known as Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD), is a very rare and malignant type of tumor. According to Spickler and Oberleitner (2011), Choriocarcinoma develops from genetically deformed germ cells which usually produce sperm or eggs (pp.1012-1014). Research shows no exact causes for the development of Choriocarcinoma (GTD). Early research shows that Choriocarcinoma was almost always found to be a fatal disease. There are no known means of prevention for this disease. According to Spickler and Oberleitner (2011), although Choriocarcinoma has the capability to metastasize extremely fast, there is a high possibility of a complete cure or remission even if the disease has been diagnosed in later stages of development even with metastases (pp.1012-1014). My research will show that it is not a dismal death sentence for those diagnosed with it. Choriocarcinoma (GTD) is primarily found in women during their childbearing years however it has been diagnosed in men as well. This paper will concentrate on the causes, risk factors, and forms of treatment in women. Doctors have no exact explanation for the development of Choriocarcinoma (GTD), though there are many risk factors. Some of the leading causes are an ectopic pregnancy where the fetus starts development in the fallopian tube. According to Goldstein and Berkowitz (2004b) the development of Choriocarcinoma in the beginning stages of a pregnancy where the fetus develops only partially or not at all happens in about 50 percent of women who have been diagnosed with this cancer (pp. 2347-2367). In these cases there can be a history of what is called a hydatiform mole (a noncancerous growth), or a molar pregnancy. A molar pregnancy is a pregnancy

References: Goldstein, D. P., & Berkowitz, R.S. (2008a). Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone Inc. Goldstein, D. P., & Berkowitz, R.S. (2004b). Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone Inc. Health Issues.org. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.health-issues.org/rare-diseases/choriocarcinoma.htm Gestational Trophoblastic Disease. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/adult/gestational-trophoblastic-disease/about-gestational-trophoblastic-disease