Specific treatment for gynecologic cancer is based on several factors including a patient’s overall health and medical history, the extent of the disease, and other individual factors. For example, while treatment for cervical cancer may require surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy, treatment for uterine cancer would depend on the stage of the cancer—whether it is confined to the ovaries or has spread to other parts of the body.
For detailed treatment information on a particular type of gynecologic cancer.
Treatment for cervical cancer may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and biological therapy (also called immunotherapy).
Surgery for cervical cancer may include cryosurgery (the use of liquid ntrogen, or a probe that is very cold, to freeze and kill cancer cells); laser surgery (the use of a powerful beam of light, which can be directed to specific parts of the body without making a large incision, to destroy abnormal cells); and/or hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus, including the cervix).
For cancer of the cervix, Sylvester provides chemo-radiation treatment—the administration of chemotherapy once a week along with daily radiation treatment for up to six weeks. This combination enhances the effectiveness of the radiation treatment.
Our radiation therapy department also offers the use of a new applicator for the delivery of low-dose-rate internal radiotherapy for cancers of the cervix, vagina, and endometrium (uterus). Current implant applicators are made of metal and usually require two to three days of hospitalization and two separate hospital stays. Our new applicator is made of plastic and conforms to the physical dimensions of the vagina. It requires only one hospital stay for two days and achieves the same effect as with the current applicators. This applicator is a unique design of the University of Miami radiation therapy department.
For cancer of the endometrium (uterus), Sylvester provides high-dose-rate radiation therapy once a week for up to six weeks. We also provide Seed Implant Therapy, which includes the implantation of a “seed” internally in the lower pelvic area and this provides direct radiation therapy.
Specific treatment for endometrial cancer is based on several factors including a patient’s overall health and medical history and other individual factors. The choice of treatment depends on the stage of the cancer—whether it is confined in the endometrium, or whether it has spread to other parts of the uterus or other parts of the body. Generally, treatment for patients with cancer of the endometrium includes surgery, radiation therapy, and/or hormone therapy.
Surgery for endometrial cancer may include hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries), pelvic lymph node dissection (removal of some lymph nodes from the pelvis), and/or laparoscopic lymph node sampling (removal of some pelvic lymph nodes through a viewing tube).
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and to shrink tumors. Radiation therapy may be delivered externally through a machine or internally through tiny tubes inserted through the vagina and left in place for a few days.
Sylvester’s radiation therapy department also offers the use of a new applicator for the delivery of low-dose-rate internal radiotherapy for cancers of the cervix, vagina, and endometrium (uterus). Current types of implant applicators are made of metal and usually require two to three days of hospitalization and two separate hospital stays. Our new applicator is made of plastic and conforms to the physical dimensions of the vagina. It requires only one hospital stay for two days and achieves the same effect as with the current applicators. This applicator is a unique design of the University of Miami radiation therapy department.
In some cases, hormones can kill cancer cells, slow the growth of cancer cells, or stop cancer cells from growing. Hormone therapy as a cancer treatment involves taking substances to interfere with the activity of hormones or to stop the production of hormones.
Progesterone (in pill form) may be given as hormone therapy for endometrial cancer. Tamoxifen may also be used to treat advanced endometrial cancer.
Specific treatment for ovarian cancer is based on several factors including a patient’s overall health and medical history and other individual factors. The choice of treatment depends on the stage of the cancer—whether it is confined to the ovaries or has spread to other parts of the body. Generally, ovarian cancer is treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of treatments.
Surgery for ovarian cancer may include salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries), hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), or pelvic lymph node dissection
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to treat cancerous cells. In most cases, chemotherapy works by interfering with the cancer cell’s ability to grow or reproduce. These drugs may be given into a vein or by mouth, in tablet form.
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and to shrink tumors. Radiation therapy may be delivered externally through a machine or internally, in some cases using a radioactive liquid given through a catheter into the abdomen.
Treatment for uterine cancer is based on several factors including a patient’s overall health and medical history and other individual factors. The choice of treatment depends on the stage of the cancer—whether it is confined to the ovaries or has spread to other parts of the body. Generally, uterine cancer is treated with surgery, radiation therapy, and/or hormone therapy.
Surgery for uterine cancer may include hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), or salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries).
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and to shrink tumors. Radiation therapy may be delivered externally through a machine, or internally, through tiny tubes inserted through the vagina and left in place for a few days.
In some cases, hormones can kill cancer cells, slow the growth of cancer cells, or stop cancer cells from growing. Hormone therapy as a cancer treatment involves taking substances to interfere with the activity of hormones or to stop the production of hormones.
Progesterone (in pill form) may be given as hormone therapy for uterine cancer.
Treatment for vaginal cancer is based on several factors including a patient’s overall health and medical history and other individual factors. The choice of treatment depends on the stage of the cancer—whether it is confined to the vagina, or has spread to other parts of the body. Generally, vaginal cancer is treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy.
Surgery may include laser surgery or local excision to remove the cancer, or a partial or complete vaginectomy to remove the vagina.
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to treat cancerous cells. In most cases, chemotherapy works by interfering with the cancer cell’s ability to grow or reproduce. These drugs may be given into a vein or by mouth, in tablet form.
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and to shrink tumors. Radiation therapy may be delivered externally through a machine or internally through tiny tubes inserted through the vagina and left in place for a few days.
Treatment for vulvar cancer is based on several factors including a patient’s overall health and medical history and other individual factors. The choice of treatment depends on the stage of the cancer—whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Generally, vulvar cancer is treated with surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.
Surgery may include laser surgery (use of a powerful beam of light to destroy abnormal cells, excision (removal of the cancer cells and an area of normal appearing skin around the cancer), or vulvectomy (surgical removal of part of all of the tissues of the vulvar region).
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and to shrink tumors.
In general, malignancies are more common as people age, but gynecologic pelvic malignancies can affect women - and young girls - of all ages. All cases of gynecologic cancer should be looked at individually.
The survival rate with all cancers depends on the type of malignancy, the stage, and its unique biology. Many gynecologic pelvic malignancies - endometrial/uterine cancer, for example - are cured completely. Surgery alone is curative for most women with endometrial cancer, but radiation and occasionally chemotherapy can be called for. Likewise, cervical cancer is usually cured by surgery and/or radiation. It may be surprising to learn there are many types of ovarian cancer. Some are entirely curable by surgery and chemotherapy while others are not, though treatments for all types of ovarian cancers can greatly extend life, and the quality of life, for years.
Having regular gynecologic examinations is not something anyone looks forward to, but its benefits are substantial in terms of diagnosing cancer at a time when it is early and curable. It is often said that ovarian cancer is the “silent killer” of women because there are no early signs, though there are ongoing efforts to diagnose ovarian cancer earlier. As far as “screening tests” for other gynecologic malignancies, mammography, pap smears and endometrial biopsies (to evaluate any type of abnormal uterine bleeding) are readily available and highly useful.
Genetics plays a significant role in the development of malignancy. One of the cruder assessments of genetic risk is the family history. Long before DNA was understood, it was clear that malignancies of certain types seem to occur more frequently in certain families. Today, a combination of better genetic understanding coupled with family history analysis can be very important. It is well known, for example, that certain breast, ovarian and other gynecologic cancers are associated with both genetic defects and family history, even when those defects are not understood. Women who do have a family history of any of these malignancies should tell their physicians.
There are literally hundreds of treatment possibilities depending on the specific medical circumstances. There are dozens of types of ovarian cancers, each with its own biologic behavior and susceptibility to various treatments. Multiple treatments apply to all cancers and patients need to seek guidance from a multidisciplinary cancer team to understand their choices. As for treatments in general, surgery, increasingly done through the laparoscope, along with chemotherapy and radiation continue to represent the main therapies against gynecologic cancers. Improved therapies coupled with new medications can lessen and even prevent side effects, in turn drastically improving the quality of life for women undergoing chemotherapy.
Our Program in Women's Oncology is dedicated to providing the best possible clinical care, educational programs for medical students, residents, fellows, and others, and to advancing cancer care through research as part of Brown University. We participate in research activities from basic science through the clinical trials and our laboratories are looking for new anticancer compounds. The philosophy underlying a cancer program has much to do with the way it approaches the sacred responsibility of patient care. Our multidisciplinary oncology team analyzes every case as a strategic step leading to the best possible medical recommendations. The combination of dedicated physicians, nurses, social works, nutritionists and complementary care experts leads to thoughtful discussions about each patient. The Program in Women's Oncology is guided by a series of simple questions - What would we want done for our loved one under these circumstances? What matters matter? Can we do more?