Inaugural International Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Day
9 September 2025
Press contact: Claudia Blake | claudia.blake@nhs.net
Staff from Sheffield's specialist national Gestational Trophoblastic Centre have marked the first-ever global awareness day dedicated to increasing knowledge and understanding of the rare group of pregnancy-related conditions.
The team, based at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, celebrated International Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Day, which was held for the first time on 3 September, with a special awareness morning at Weston Park Cancer Centre.
Gestational trophoblastic disease is a rare group of conditions which develop during the early stages of pregnancy. Sheffield is home to one of only two national centres caring for women with the condition, providing care to women from across the north of England.
At the event, the team highlighted their work over the past ten years, showcasing research publications, conference posters, and the social gatherings they have hosted for patients following treatment. A snapshot of the team’s dedication and progress in advancing care and awareness of gestational trophoblastic disease was also provided.
'I've been supported by every member of the team'
Current patient Subusola Ojo, who was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of the condition known as an epithelioid trophoblastic tumour in March this year, also shared a few words. An epithelioid trophoblastic tumour is a very rare type of gestational trophoblastic disease which arises many months – or even years – after pregnancy.
Subusola, whose last pregnancy was 15 years ago, was referred to the specialist Centre by her gynaecologist in Sunderland.
“The GTD team is a great team. I was shattered and devastated when I received my diagnosis, but as soon as I spoke to the team I felt better. They reassured me that it was treatable and curable. I got a lot of reassurance from this great and wonderful team and this helped me through each course of the treatment. They gave me personalised care and encouraged me to take everything one step at a time. The GTD team are like family to me. I’ve been supported by every member of the team. They’ve been incredible.”
Subusola, who underwent a hysterectomy and a course of chemotherapy to treat her cancer, believes it’s vital to raise awareness of the team’s crucial work:
“A lot of people don’t know what GTD is and have never heard of it before – but people come from all over to access this service. I travel three hours to Sheffield to receive my treatment.”
Raising awareness of rare diseases
Over 50 years ago, gestational trophoblastic disease was invariably fatal. Thanks to the establishment of specialist centres it is now almost always curable.
Professor Matt Winter, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Director of the Sheffield Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Centre, said:
“The establishment of a world trophoblastic day is an incredibly important step forward in raising public and professional awareness of these rare diseases - including advocating for rare diseases in health policies and centralising care to GTD centres that we know leads to better outcomes for our patients. We also want to optimally support patients at the initial time of diagnosis, which can be a very frightening time due to less awareness of these rare tumours and then throughout and following completion of treatment. We also want to bring together the medical and scientific communities around the world to promote international collaborative research, follow recently published harmonised guidelines and improve access to innovative therapies.”
For further information about the Sheffield Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Centre visit the website at: https://stdc.sites.sheffield.ac.uk
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