Gynecological Cancer |
|
Gynecolgic (Gyn) Cancers include cancers of the uterus, ovaries, cervix, vagina, vulva, and fallopian tubes FactsThe American Cancer society estimates 83,000 women per year are diagnosed with some form of gynecologic cancer. The most common gynecologic cancer is uterine or endometrial cancer. More than 40,000 cases are diagnosed each year. Yearly more than 28,000 women die from gyn cancer. Screening with the Pap smear has allowed for the earlier detection of abnormalities of the cervix and vagina. This early detection has helped prevent the development of more advanced disease and has improved survival rates. Risk FactorsUterine or Endometrial Cancer
Cervical Cancer
Ovarian Cancer
Vaginal Cancer
There are often no outward signs or symptoms of these cancers. However, some of the more common ones are listed below.
The treatment of gyn cancers is varied. It depends on the type of cancer, its extent or stage, its location, and your overall health. Prior to your physicians determining the best course of treatment, you will often need a thorough physical exam which may need to be done under anesthesia, biopsies of the tumor, and radiographic studies, such as MRI, CT, PET, or ultrasound to determine the extent of the cancer. Your treatment team may be composed of multiple physicians:
Your cancer may be treated using only one modality of treatment or you may need some combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Radiation Therapy For Gyn CancersRadiation therapy or radiotherapy is the careful use of radiation to treat cancer. Radiation oncologists use radiation to try and cure cancer or to control cancer growth to relieve symptoms. Radiation works by interfering with the ability of cancer cells to multiply. It causes the cancer cells to die and then the body can naturally eliminate these cells. Healthy tissues can be affected by radiation but they are able to repair the radiation damage. The radiation for gyn cancers often involves a combination of two types of radiation external beam radiation and brachytherapy. External Beam Radiation 3-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Brachytherapy is also known as intracavitary or internal radiation. It involves the placement of radioactive sources within applicators which are then placed within the vagina or uterus. This allows a higher dose of radiation to be delivered to the tumor while minimizing dose to the surrounding structures. Brachytherapy is often done at the same time or after external beam radiation. Often several sessions are required. Occasionally it can be used as the sole modality of radiation. Low dose rate brachytherapy High dose rate brachytherapy The side effects of radiation depend on the area being treated and the type of radiation used. They also depend on whether you are getting chemotherapy along with the radiation. Many patients experience minor or no side effects and continue with their normal activities. The more common side effects are listed below. These will resolve after the treatment ends.
Your physicians will help you manage these side effects during the treatment. |