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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...
Minimally Invasive Surgery
According to the American Cancer Society, one in three women can expect to have some form of cancer during their lifetime.
In the past, this often meant major surgery, which not only left scarring, but also had numerous complications, including the risk of infection. In the past 15 years, however, great strides have been made in minimally invasive surgery, which leaves little scarring and drastically decreases the risk of complications.
Minimally invasive surgery allows skilled surgeons to insert precision instrumentation through a relative small incision or a series of incisions. Using these instruments, doctors can diagnose, biopsy and remove tumors, destroy cancerous growths and relieve the discomfort and pain associated with some forms of cancer. Minimally invasive surgery may be used alone or in combination with other treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
One of the most revolutionary procedures is robotic surgery. A new form of minimally invasive surgery, the surgeon uses the Gynecologic Oncology Center’s state-of-the-art da Vinci® robotic technology to perform the surgery through several small incisions. Micro-instruments are inserted through the incisions and real-time 3D imaging is used so the surgeon can make precise cuts, keeping surrounding nerves and tissues from being damaged. The benefits include a shorter hospital stay, less pain, blood loss and scarring, fewer infections and complications and the ability to return to a normal routine more quickly.
The benefits of minimally invasive surgery are a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery and less scarring. You are also able to return to a normal life sooner, since the surgery is not invasive.
Minimally invasive surgery isn't for every patient's individual diagnosis or condition.