Gynecologic cancer

Certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) cause cervical cancer. When detected early, it's highly treatable. Your gynecologist screens you for this cancer at your annual well-woman exam. We can treat early-stage cervical cancer with a hysterectomy and by removing your affected lymph nodes. We treat more advanced cancer with a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect and has usually spread to other areas by the time it's caught. The most common type of ovarian cancer cell is epithelial. We might recommend surgery to remove your ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. If you get surgery, we might also remove abnormal tissue surrounding the affected area. Chemotherapy is necessary in some cases, as well.

Also called endometrial cancer, uterine cancer is the most common form of gynecological cancer. It's most likely to occur if you're 55 years old or older. Surgery is usually the treatment of choice and includes a hysterectomy with the removal of your fallopian tubes, ovaries and pelvic lymph nodes. Other treatments we might use include radiation, hormone therapy and chemotherapy.

Vaginal cancer often appears in the cells that line the surface of your vagina. Surgery and radiation are the standard treatments we use for this type of cancer, although new treatment options are emerging.

Pelvic exams greatly improve the chances of detecting vulvar cancer early. As one of the types of cancer we treat most, vulvar cancer is often misdiagnosed until the tumor on your vulva grows large enough to identify. Types of vulvar cancer include squamous cell carcinomas, adenocarcinoma, melanoma, sarcoma and basal cell carcinoma.

Surgical procedures we perform to treat this cancer include a wide local excision and a radical vulvectomy. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are additional treatment options.

You may benefit from getting radiation therapy for gynecological cancer. We offer the latest techniques and technology in this area. The advanced radiation therapy we use focuses directly on the site of your tumor — delivering a powerful dose of radiation while avoiding healthy tissue. The radiation treatments we offer include:

• External beam radiation therapy
• High dose-rate brachytherapy
• Image-guided radiation therapy
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy
• Stereotactic body radiotherapy
• Stereotactic radiosurgery

Sometimes radiation therapy or the spread of cancer from other parts of your body can disintegrate or break your pelvic bones. We offer the pelvic stabilization procedure as a potential solution to repair the affected bones.

Our gynecological oncologists perform a wide range of surgeries, including diagnostic laparoscopy and complex abdominal techniques. The procedures we offer include:

• Argon beam coagulation — Removal of affected tissue using an electric current
• Biopsy — Removal of sample tissue or cells for further examination
• Cystoscopy — Laparoscopic exam inside your bladder
• Hysterectomy — Removal of your uterus
• Hysteroscopy — Laparoscopic examination of your uterus
• Oophorectomy — Removal of one or both of your ovaries
• Oophoropexy — Suspension of your ovaries
• Ostomy — Large intestine formation and revision
• Ovarian cancer debulking — Removal of as much of your tumor as possible
• Paracentesis — Diagnostic procedure that removes fluid from your abdomen using a needle or catheter
• Partial urethrectomy — Removal of some of your urethra
• Pelvic lymphadenectomy — Removal of your pelvic lymph nodes
• Salpingo-oophorectomy — Removal of your ovaries and fallopian tubes
• Ureterolysis — Surgery on your ureter
• Vaginectomy — Removal of your vagina
• Vulvectomy — Removal of some or all of your vulva

Minimally invasive and robotic surgery

We are proud to offer the latest surgical technologies for treating gynecological cancers. Minimally invasive gynecological surgery (MIGS) can be used in both cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Our expert surgeons have extensive training in and experience with the use of robot-assisted surgery. During the procedure, your surgeon remains in charge while the technology allows them to make precise movements and get clear, high-definition visuals. The potential benefits of robotic surgery can be:

• Faster recovery
• Minimal scarring
• Shorter hospital stay
• Smaller incisions