Cancers of the female reproductive system or gynecologic cancers are rare. However, all women have a risk of developing gynecologic cancer, which increases with age. Gynecologic cancer can be treated, but treatment is more effective if the cancer is diagnosed early.
Gynecologic oncology is the medical field that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cancers that affect the female reproductive organs. Doctors who specialize in this field are called gynecologic oncologists. They are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage gynecologic cancers.
What Are the Gynecologic Cancers You Can Get?
Types of gynecologic cancers include:
- Ovarian cancer. It forms in the ovaries.
- Uterine sarcoma. It affects the muscles of the uterus.
- Vaginal cancer. It forms in the vagina.
- Vulvar cancer. It affects the vulva or the external female genitalia.
- Cervical cancer. It occurs in the cervix, which connects the uterus and vagina.
- Endometrial or uterine cancer. It affects the tissues that line the uterus.
- Fallopian tube cancer. It forms in the fallopian tubes, which transport the egg from the ovaries to the uterus.
- Gestational trophoblastic disease. It occurs during pregnancy and affects the cells that would develop into the placenta.
What Are Gynecologic Oncology Procedures?
If you show symptoms of gynecologic cancer, you’ll have to visit a gynecologic oncologist for diagnosis and treatment. Based on your diagnosis, cancer stage, and the affected organ, your doctor may use one or more gynecologic oncology procedures.
Gynecologic oncologists often perform debulking to remove most of the cancerous tissue from the affected organ. This is done to prevent cancer from spreading to other body parts. Doctors treat the remaining tissue using therapies like radiation or chemotherapy. They may also perform surgery to remove surrounding lymph nodes that may contain cancer cells for cancer diagnosis and staging.
Doctors may perform a hysterectomy. It involves removing the entire uterus and cervix so that cancer doesn’t spread. If the doctor removes the upper part of the vagina along with the uterus and cervix, it’s called a radical hysterectomy.
If you’re prone to gynecologic cancer, your doctor may perform a preventive or prophylactic surgery. They may remove certain parts of your reproductive system to prevent the formation of cancer cells. They may perform a hysterectomy or a salpingo-oophorectomy, which involves the removal of your ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Along with surgery, you may be given chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.
How NVSCC Can Help You
Nevada Surgery and Cancer Care or NVSCC offers cutting-edge gynecologic oncology services to help in the early diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancers. We offer the latest minimally invasive robotic surgery for hysterectomy — the revolutionary Da Vinci robotic surgery.
Da Vinci surgery is a robot-assisted or laparoscopic surgery, which requires small incisions. It is used to treat conditions that affect the female reproductive system because it is simple, effective, and minimally invasive. It leaves little scarring and has a quicker recovery time than invasive surgical procedures.
At NVSCC, you’ll be under the care of Nevada’s finest gynecological oncologist, Dr. Lynn Kowalski. With several years of experience in minimally invasive robotic surgery, she has performed over 2,000 Da Vinci surgeries.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Your well-being is our priority. We are here for you through each step of the way from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and recovery. Schedule a consultation with NVSCC’S qualified gynecologic oncologists and start your journey toward wellness today!