Complementary services
At the Marquès Institute we have a unit specialized in reproductive counseling for cancer patients with the aim of helping women who have suffered from cancer and want to have a child.
89% of cancer patients evaluated by the Marquès Institute are suitable to begin a reproductive process. In addition, 82% have achieved pregnancy through different treatments and 7 out of 10 have been mothers in less than two years since their consultation.
The need to preserve fertility in cancer patients is increasingly greater, since the incidence of cancer in women of reproductive age has increased in recent years due to the delay in motherhood.
Once the patient consults Institut Marquès because she wants to get pregnant after cancer, we collect her general, gynecological, reproductive and oncological history, as well as all the documentation related to the diagnosis and oncological treatment.
This Unit serves patients from all over the world and allows them to consult without the need to travel, via video call and email.
A multidisciplinary team evaluates each case and issues a resolution on the type of reproductive treatment to be followed, agreed with the Assisted Reproduction Service of Institut Marquès. This multidisciplinary evaluation helps these patients become mothers without increasing the risk of recurrence of the disease.
Yes, you can be a mother after cancer.
In this case, the patient receives all the information about the medical reasons that discourage her from seeking pregnancy. The doctor will also explain in detail what diagnostic tests or oncological treatments to follow before re-evaluating your case.
Pregnancy rates of oncology patients
When a patient is diagnosed with a precancerous cervical lesion (also called cervical dysplasia, CIN, or SIL), she undergoes a colposcopy or microcolposcopy. These two optical systems allow us to visualize the cervix with great precision to locate the lesions that have caused the dysplasia. Once the lesions are located, a biopsy is performed on the affected area. The biopsy results will confirm the lesion the patient has and its severity.
No, it is performed in the same consultation and local anesthesia is rarely required.
Yes, they are generally easily curable with the various treatments available. Low-grade lesions that are well-defined by colposcopy can be treated with destructive treatments using CO2 laser or cryocoagulation. Extensive or poorly visible lesions require excisional treatment (removal) with a diathermy loop. The most severe cases undergo a procedure called conization, in which a cone-shaped section of the cervix is removed.
In cases of severe male factor infertility, before performing in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), it is important to study testicular meiosis to rule out genetic abnormalities in sperm that could lead to repeated pregnancy failures or embryonic abnormalities. In some cases, if there is a sufficient number of spermatogenesis cells, this study can be performed on semen.
No, the cervix has very little sensitivity, and we generally perform these laser treatments in the office or on an outpatient basis at the clinic. In cases of deeper treatments, they can be performed with minimal local anesthesia or sedation.
Because breast cancer is currently the most common cancer among Spanish women, with one in 10-13 women estimated to develop it before the age of 70. Furthermore, it is one of the types of cancer in which medicine has made the most progress in terms of early diagnosis and treatment.
There is also great concern among healthcare professionals: gynecologists examine the breasts of all patients who come for checkups, and public awareness campaigns are conducted to encourage all women to have regular screenings.
Currently, the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach, with the coordination of physicians from various specialties (gynecologist, radiologist, oncologist, radiation oncologist, etc.) in Breast Units or Committees. This allows for a comprehensive approach to each case and enables individualized consensus on the steps to be taken.
Cancer is a disease in which cells become altered and divide uncontrollably and without order, forming abnormal tissue. This tissue can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. It can also spread from the primary tumor into the bloodstream or lymphatic system, forming a secondary tumor in another part of the body, called metastasis.
There are different types of malignant breast tumors, but they all share the characteristic of forming a lump that can be diagnosed before it spreads beyond the breast.
Early detection refers to diagnosing breast cancer in women who are clinically asymptomatic, that is, before a lump is palpable.
This is achieved through screening programs with annual mammograms, starting at age 40. Over the last 20 years, screening programs have increased the detection of non-palpable tumors and raised the survival rate to 90%.
A breast tumor is usually palpable when it reaches 1 cm in size. At this stage, the vast majority of cancer cases are curable, but the goal of early detection is to identify them earlier, in smaller, initial stages or with microcalcifications.
Because breast cancer is currently the most common cancer among Spanish women, with one in 10-13 women estimated to develop it before the age of 70. Furthermore, it is one of the types of cancer in which medicine has made the most progress in terms of early diagnosis and treatment.
There is also great concern among healthcare professionals: gynecologists examine the breasts of all patients who come for checkups, and public awareness campaigns are conducted to encourage all women to have regular screenings.
Currently, the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach, with the coordination of physicians from various specialties (gynecologist, radiologist, oncologist, radiation oncologist, etc.) in Breast Units or Committees. This allows for a comprehensive approach to each case and enables individualized consensus on the steps to be taken.
Cancer is a disease in which cells become altered and divide uncontrollably and without order, forming abnormal tissue. This tissue can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. It can also spread from the primary tumor into the bloodstream or lymphatic system, forming a secondary tumor in another part of the body, called metastasis.
There are different types of malignant breast tumors, but they all share the characteristic of forming a lump that can be diagnosed before it spreads beyond the breast.
Early detection refers to diagnosing breast cancer in women who are clinically asymptomatic, that is, before a lump is palpable.
This is achieved through screening programs with annual mammograms, starting at age 40. Over the last 20 years, screening programs have increased the detection of non-palpable tumors and raised the survival rate to 90%.
A breast tumor is usually palpable when it reaches 1 cm in size. At this stage, the vast majority of cancer cases are curable, but the goal of early detection is to identify them earlier, in smaller, initial stages or with microcalcifications.
In most cases, surgery is the first treatment for patients diagnosed with breast cancer, with the goal of removing the disease locally. In some cases, surgery is postponed for four to six months to begin chemotherapy or hormone therapy; the reduction in tumor size achieved through these treatments will allow us to preserve the breast at the time of surgery.
It is the surgical removal of the entire mammary gland along with part of the skin, areola, and nipple. This type of surgery is only performed when absolutely necessary for a cure. In many cases, removing only the area affected by the tumor is sufficient. It is an emotionally painful procedure. It requires psychological support from the medical team, the family, and in many cases, clinical psychologists.
Not always: breast preservation is possible in more than 70% of patients. Depending on the characteristics of the tumor and the patient's breast, conservative treatment may be performed. Conservative treatment (lumpectomy, segmentectomy, or quadrantectomy) involves removing the tumor and adjacent tissues, preserving as much of the mammary gland as possible. This is only possible as long as it does not pose a greater risk to the patient.
In most cases, conservative treatment involves applying radiation therapy to the operated breast to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels similar to blood vessels. It allows nutrients and immune cells to reach different parts of the body. These lymphatic vessels empty into filters called lymph nodes, whose function is to prevent the passage of infections or tumor cells. In the armpit, there are lymph nodes that act as the first filter for the lymphatic vessels of the breast.
Axillary lymphadenectomy involves removing all the lymph nodes in the armpit on the side of the breast with the tumor. This operation allows doctors to determine if cancer cells have entered the lymphatic system.
No: it is possible to preserve the axillary lymph nodes in more than 60% of cases. When the tumor is diagnosed very early, it is still confined to the mammary ducts; in these cases, lymphadenectomy is not necessary.
Furthermore, there is an alternative to lymphadenectomy: the sentinel lymph node biopsy. This technique allows doctors to determine if a breast tumor has spread to the axilla without having to remove all the lymph nodes.
Rehabilitation is a very important part of breast cancer treatment to help women return to normal activity as soon as possible and prevent movement restrictions. Recovery will vary from woman to woman, depending on the extent of the disease, the treatment received, and other factors.
Care will be more important in cases where an axillary lymphadenectomy is performed; avoiding excessive weight, blood draws, immediately disinfecting any wound and using insect repellent in the countryside and sunscreens in summer.
Yes. Once breast cancer treatment is complete, it's important to have regular follow-up appointments. The gynecologist and oncologist will continue to monitor the woman. These appointments typically include examinations of the chest, armpit, and neck, as well as mammograms, breast ultrasounds, blood tests for tumor markers, chest X-rays, bone scans, and other tests.
The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node to which a breast tumor drains and is usually located in the armpit or in the internal mammary chain (next to the sternum). By examining it, we can determine if a breast tumor has spread to the armpit.
Sentinel lymph node localization is performed using a liquid labeled with isotopes (Technetium-99), which is injected around or into the tumor. A bone scan is then performed to pinpoint the exact location. The following day, the tumor and the sentinel lymph node are removed, and the node is immediately analyzed by cytology. Subsequently, the appropriate diagnostic workup is carried out.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy avoids the removal of all lymph nodes and therefore its side effects, such as arm swelling, decreased immunity, and large scars. Generally speaking, sentinel lymph node biopsy can prevent 70% of lymph node removals.
It will depend on the type of tumor, its size, and the previous condition of the lymph nodes.
In sentinel lymph node biopsy, a 4-5% false-negative rate is accepted worldwide (removal of a lymph node other than the sentinel and/or undiagnosed micrometastases), with the possibility of local recurrence over time. The risk of lymph accumulation in the arm (lymphedema) is much lower than with axillary lymphadenectomy, occurring in only 5% of patients.
The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. Endometrial cancer typically manifests in the following ways:
A presumptive diagnosis is made using gynecological ultrasound and hysteroscopy. A definitive diagnosis is made by an endometrial biopsy, which can be performed during the same appointment with minimal discomfort for the patient.
All cancers are serious, but endometrial cancer allows for very effective treatments when diagnosed in its early stages. Treatment is based on surgery and, generally, radiotherapy followed by other therapies.
