Surgery for ovarian cancer. According to the surgeon, all cancer cells had been removed. It was later found that 2% cancer cells had not been removed. Can one see during an operation, on the basis of an administered liquid, whether all cancer cells have been removed?
Humans usually have benign cells. There must be a reason why those cells can transform into a malignant cell. Why does that happen?
Answer
Best,
During an operation we cannot (currently) see whether all cancer cells have been removed. We therefore always speak of a loss of sight: does everything look clean after the procedure? This is “macroscopic”. On a microscopic level, some cancer cells can always remain and the chemotherapy will have to act on this.
The reason cells become malignant has to do with the control mechanisms for cell death. A cell that is disrupted will normally die on its own. If that mechanism is disrupted, the cell will continue to divide and spread.
Answered by
Dr Jasper Verguts
Gynecology-Obstetrics
Old Market 13 3000 Leuven
https://www.kuleuven.be/
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