Gynecologic oncologists receive special training on diseases affecting the female reproductive organs.
Gynecologic oncology surgery is meant to treat malignancies that are present in the ovaries, vagina, cervix, vulva, endometrium and fallopian tube. Post-surgery treatment may include chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy depending on the disease and the condition of the patient.
Types
Gynecologic oncology surgery includes procedures meant to remove malignant organs, biopsy diseased tissue, and perform surgical resections involving female reproductive organs. Procedures can include radical hysterectomy, and one of the main goals of these surgeries is to determine the stage of ovarian, uterine, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers.
Effects
Many women experience side effects after gynecologic oncology surgeries that are precipitated by the removal of hormone-producing and regulating organs including the uterus and ovaries. For example, according to the Livestrong website, after a full hysterectomy women can abruptly experience menopause symptoms and incontinence.
Potential
Minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgery is increasingly being performed by gynecologic oncologists to treat endometrial and cervical cancers and to remove certain malignant tumors. According to the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center, this type of surgery only requires "a few small incisions in the patient's abdomen through which the instruments attached to the robotic platform can be inserted into the body." Benefits include shorter recovery times, less pain and a decreased risk of infection.
Tags: female reproductive, female reproductive organs, Gynecologic oncology, Gynecologic oncology surgery, oncology surgery, reproductive organs
