Gynecologic Cancer

Treatment on the Gulf Coast

Gynecologic cancers involve those in any part of a woman’s reproductive system and, therefore, all women are at some variety of risk. Located in Mobile and across the Gulf Coast, Infirmary Cancer Care has been successfully treating cancer patients for decades and is proud to add gynecologic oncology to our service lines. With state-of-the-art equipment at our facilities and specialists in gynecologic oncology, our team can help you defeat these cancers. Schedule an appointment today to speak with one of our specialists to learn more and begin the treatment process.

Let us help you begin the fight today. Contact us today.

What Are Gynecologic Cancers?

Gynecologic cancers result from the rapid growth and spread of abnormal cells in one of the reproductive organs. Comparatively, gynecologic cancers are uncommon, occurring in about 100,000 women in the United States each year. All women are at risk for developing gynecologic cancers, and the risk increases with age.

Endometrial cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the uterus and begins in the layer of cells that form the lining (endometrium) of the uterus. Endometrial cancer is often detected at an early stage because it frequently produces abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Cervical, vaginal andvulvar cancers are often linked to Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection. An HPV vaccine is available for girls and young women (between the ages of 11 and 26).

Up to 10% of patients with ovarian cancer have a family history of the disease. A woman whose mother, daughter or sister had ovarian, Fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer might choose to undergo genetic testing for mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Mutations in these genes can increase your risk for ovarian cancer.

Some gynecologic cancers have been associated with in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic form of estrogen that was prescribed to pregnant women between 1940 and 1971, before it was determined to be unsafe.

Diagnosis & Staging

Early diagnosis is critical to successful outcomes from a cancer diagnosis and regular gynecologic screening can be a helpful prevention tool or allow for early diagnosis.

Once cancer has been diagnosed through one of these methods, a doctor will then analyze the stage of your cancer based on how far it has spread and how aggressively it is growing. The American Cancer Society usually stages gynecologic cancers on a scale of 0 to 4 with 0 being the earliest stage of cancer and stage 4 being an end-stage, aggressive growth cancer. Individual diagnoses vary greatly for patients depending on how early the cancer was detected, the treatment received and the individual’s overall health at the time of diagnosis.

Prevention & Treatment

Treatment depends on many factors, including whether the cancer has spread and whether the patient is young enough to have children.

For more advanced disease, surgery is usually the best option. Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) is common among patients with cervical, uterine and ovarian cancers. Doctors may also suggest radiation therapy or chemotherapy to prevent the cancer from spreading further.

If you are diagnosed with gynecologic cancer, your doctor and treatment team will work with you to formulate a plan to give you the best possible outcome. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

A Clinical Trial May Be An Option For Your Treatment

Call us today at (251) 435-2273 for more information on our gynecologic treatment programs.