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Even with an annual Pap smear test and the new vaccination for young women, cervical cancer can’t be totally prevented. But there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of developing cancer of the cervix.
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Vaginal cancer is a relatively rare disorder, comprising about 2% to 3% of all gynecologic cancers. Approximately 2,400 women are diagnosed each year with vaginal cancer in the United States.
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The chance of getting ovarian cancer increases as a woman gets older. Ovarian cancer occurs in women over the age of 50 and the highest risk is in women over 60.
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Uterine cancer is the most common of all cancers in the female reproductive system. It can either form in the inner lining of the uterus or the outer layer of muscle tissue.
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Thought to be caused by a problem with the genetic information transmitted between an egg and sperm, molar pregnancy can develop during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Testimonials
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When Jan Holsclaw found out she had ovarian cancer, she was referred to Dr. Bigsby at Florida Hospital Cancer Institute for surgery and treatment. With reassuring words and...
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TV Personality Jan C. Garavaglia, M.D., (aka "Dr. G") is the chief medical examiner for the District Nine (Orange-Osceola) Medical Examiner's Office in Florida. When she... -
Bonnie has helped to raise millions of dollars for ovarian cancer research taking place at National Cancer Institute (NCI), Department of Defense (DOD), Centers for Disease...
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy has been around since the 1950s and is often the first choice for treating many forms of cancer. Chemotherapy has been extensively tested and while it has some unpleasant side effects, it is one of the most effective methods known for treating cancer.
More than 100 drugs are in use today for chemotherapy. Each has a specific use or role in treating cancer. For example, there are drugs that attack a cell in a specific phase of it's cycle, such as during its growth period or resting phase. This helps doctors zero in on the drugs that will work best for a particular case of cancer.
Of course, chemotherapy drugs can’t yet tell the difference between a healthy cell and a cancerous one. If a drug is supposed to attack a reproducing cell, it attacks all the ones in the region. A delicate balance has to be struck during treatment to balance the destruction of healthy cells with the destruction of the cancerous ones. The goal throughout is to destroy as many cancer cells as possible while sparing the normal cells. The death of the healthy cells causes the side effects you often hear about, such as hair loss or bone marrow suppression (neutropenia, aneuria).
Chemo drugs are delivered in one of the following ways:
Injection. Some forms of chemo are delivered by injection, much like a flu shot. It can be administered in the doctor’s office, the hospital, a clinic or at home.
Intravenously. This is the most common way chemotherapy is delivered. It is sent directly into the veins through a needle or catheter. It’s commonly known as an IV injection.
Chemo may be administered in a single day, over the course of a week or even once a month. The frequency depends largely on the type of cancer you have and type of drug or drugs you have been prescribed. How long you are involved in chemotherapy depends on how the cancer is responding to treatment and how you are reacting to the drugs.
The Gynecologic Oncology Center offers patients a wide range of clinical trials for chemotherapy treatments that are not yet available to the general public. Clinical trials are highley regulated by oversight committees and are the vehicle of clinical research that allows new information about cancer therapy to progress and become "standard of care". If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, ask one of our oncologist about your options and clinical trial availability.