Elisabeth Carola is a French oncology chemotherapy expert who is also the Dean of the Oncology Department of South Oise Community Hospital, France. She specializes in treatment of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostatic cancer, ovarian cancer, gastrointestinal and ENT diseases.
She is member of major oncology associations in France like GERCOR and SOFOG and also works as a writer for the Geriatric Oncology Column in the “Lettre du Cancérologue” – regarded by French oncologists as one of the most reliable oncology journals. Dr. Carola worked in Vinmec from January 22nd to Feb 4th, 2015. In the afternoon of Jan 28, she was interviewed for the audience of VOV traffic.
Good afternoon VOV audiences and thank you VOV for inviting me to this lovely talk today. I am also very honored to be invited by Vinmec International Hospital to discuss up-to-date protocols for the treatment of cancer.
Doctor, can you tell us about how healthcare management for cancer patients works in France?
Nowadays, it is recommended to combine many specialities in cancer treatment . Patient’s medical records should be seen and discussed by collaborating experts in order to decide the best treatment protocol for the patient. There are similar consulting meetings every week at Vinmec International Hospital. After that, patients will be provided with information to help them make their own treatment decisions such as choosing whether to be treated as an inpatient or outpatient. The ultimate goal is to improve patient quality of life and also provide pain control.
 |
|
Elisabeth Carola, Dean of the Oncology Department of South Oise Community Hospital, France |
Cancer is now everyone’s concern, so how can we prevent it?
Cancer is increasing, but there are also significant improvements for early detection of this disease. It is important to have both an early diagnosis and an effective treatment. Women from age 40 must do a self-examination of their breast once every 1-2 months while those above 50 years old should also have a mammogram once every 2 years. It helps detect any possible abnormal mass in the breast. Women from age of 40 should also test for cervical cancer once every 2 years. It is recommended for both men and women to consult with a doctor immediately if experiencing unusual and prolonged diarrhea , constipation, bleeding or pain.
 |
|
Vinmec’s modern equipment |
What advances are there in chemotherapy?
There is a revolution to improve efficiency and better control of side effects of cancer treatment with new drugs, such as anti-nausea and anti-vomiting medications, and to minimize the risk of infection after chemotherapy. Some chemotherapy drugs also can now be given orally, which is more convenient for the patient. In addition, drugs that target and kill only malignant cells will cause less toxicity than traditional chemotherapy. Oncologists from around the world are always sharing information to update the latest methods of treatment. Treatments can be individually or generally applied in order to achieve the most effective, least toxic result. If you happen to get sick, do not give up, and keep on fighting the disease.
Thank you doctor!
