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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...
Vulvar Cancer Treatment
The course of treatment for vulvar cancer depends on a lot of factors, including type of cancer, stage of cancer, your age and overall health. Since all women are different, you’ll want to consult with your physician at the Gynecologic Oncology Center to determine the best course of treatment for you.
Surgery
Surgery is by far the most common treatment for vulvar cancer. The goal is to remove as much of the cancer as possible without affecting the woman’s sexual function.
One of the following procedures may be used:
Wide local excision: This procedure removes the cancer as well as some of the normal tissue surrounding the cancer.
Radical local excision: In this procedure, the cancer and a larger portion of the normal tissue around it are removed. The lymph nodes in the groin may also be removed if necessary.
Vulvectomy: In this procedure all or part of the vulva is removed. There are four types of vulvectomies:
- Skinning vulvectomy: The top layer of skin on the vulva where the cancer is present is removed. In some cases, skin grafts from other parts of the body may be harvested to cover the affected area.
- Simple vulvectomy: The entire vulva is removed.
- Modified radical vulvectomy: The vulva is removed along with some of the tissue surrounding it.
- Radical vulvectomy. The entire vulva as well as the clitoris and nearby tissue is removed. Depending on the involvement, the lymph nodes may also be removed.
Pelvic exteneration: In this procedure, the lower colon, rectum and bladder are removed as well as the cervix, vagina, ovaries and nearby lymph nodes. Surgeons then create artificial openings for urine and stool to be removed into a collection bag.
In some cases chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may be employed to kill remaining cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy
Using high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation, specialists at the Gynecologic Oncology Center use radiation therapy to kill cancer cells. There are two therapy options, external and internal. External radiation uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancerous area. With internal radiation, a radioactive substance is placed into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given will depend on the type and stage of the cancer that is being treated.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer therapy that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells in specific stages, either by killing the cells or stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy can be administered orally or injected into the bloodstream. It can also be intravenously applied though IV therapy. Chemotherapy drugs may be prescribed either individually or in combination, depending on the situation.
The Gynecologic Oncology Center participates in more chemotherapy clinical trials than any other hospital in the region, providing patients with cutting edge treatments that aren’t yet available to the general public.