When a patient has invasive cancer of the cervix, uterus, vulva or vagina, or high probability of ovarian cancer or gestational trophoblastic disease, she may be referred to the Division of Gynecologic Oncology for an initial visit with a physician and an evaluation plan tailored to her specific needs.
The UI Hospitals and Clinics offers multidisciplinary treatment of gynecologic cancers, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, and access to innovative investigational protocols.
A treatment plan is formulated after discussion of
all laboratory and x-ray results and review of pathology
slides by oncologists, radiation oncologists, and pathologists specializing in the treatment of gynecologic cancers. The patient benefits from
the active discussion of treatment options by these
specialists.
Services
Radical gynecologic surgery, full service radiation
therapy, and a complete range of chemotherapy are available
through the gynecologic oncology service with collaboration
from appropriate specialists in other areas.
Surgical
procedures include radical hysterectomy with pelvic
lymphadenectomy, pelvic exenteration, radical vulvectomy and
inguinal lymphadenectomy, surgical staging for endometrial
cancer, and cytoreductive surgery, including bowel
resection, if necessary, for ovarian cancer.
Radiation therapy techniques include:
- external beam radiation with 4-, 18- or 25- MeV linear
accelerators
- full simulation capability
- a well-staffed physics department for calculation of
dosages, particularly in irregular fields
- intracavitary and volume implants and intracavitary
instillation of radioisotopes such as P-32
Intravenous and intraperitoneal chemotherapy are
available for primary treatment of gestational trophoblastic
disease and ovarian cancer, and recurrent cervical,
endometrial, and ovarian cancer.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
for treatment of bulky stage IB carcinoma of the cervix,
autologous transfusion during radical hysterectomy, and
oncogene expression in familial cancers are some of the
innovative in-house protocols available to patients.
The UI
participates in the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG).
Exciting new agents become available to eligible patients
through these GOG protocols.
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