Gynecologic Cancers Treatments

Here at City of Hope, our team of experts uses leading-edge methods to treat gynecologic cancers.

Pelvic Floor Reconstruction 

More than half of all women with gynecologic cancers experience issues with pelvic floor dysfunction before or after treatment. Despite the fact that it can significantly affect a patient’s quality of life, pelvic floor dysfunction often goes unaddressed. At City of Hope, we work with all our patients during and after treatment to address pelvic floor dysfunction using advanced surgical options, with the goal of improving recovery time and quality of life.

Your multidisciplinary surgical team at City of Hope has expertise in the latest treatments for gynecological cancers and conditions. If you are a patient in the gynecologic oncology program, you will be screened for pelvic floor dysfunction. Our team specializes in eradicating cancer while safeguarding or restoring pelvic floor function, pelvic anatomy, continence and sexual function. Our focus on robotic, laparoscopic and other less invasive approaches helps minimize trauma, reduce postoperative pain and shorten recovery times.  

One important treatment option for patients with gynecologic cancers is pelvic exenteration, or the removal of organs within the pelvis. Your care team might recommend pelvic floor reconstruction after this kind of treatment to help restore function and quality of life.

How Does Pelvic Floor Reconstruction Work?

City of Hope’s plastic surgeons are experts in complex pelvic reconstructive surgery. During these procedures, our surgical team uses tissue from another part of the body to reconstruct the vaginal canal and pelvic floor. Some pelvic floor reconstructions are performed through an incision in the vagina, while others are carried out through an incision in the abdomen. This type of reconstructive surgery can sometimes be performed at the same time as your cancer surgery, reducing the need for multiple operations. The initial rest period is typically six to eight weeks.

Pelvic floor reconstruction surgery helps reduce the risk of issues such as perineal evisceration or complications during the healing process. It also helps you preserve a positive self-image after treatment and build a better quality of life into the future.

Learn more about pelvic floor reconstruction
 

Highlights of Our Cervical Cancer Treatment Program Include:

  • Minimally invasive and robotic surgery, which uses smaller incisions than a traditional open procedure, resulting in less blood loss, reduced pain, shorter recovery time and quicker return to normal activities
  • Advanced radiation therapy delivery that is more focused on cancerous cells with less exposure on surrounding normal tissues
  • Fertility-preserving therapy options for young women who want to preserve their fertility after cancer treatment
  • Individually customized chemotherapy regimens, including novel drugs and drug combinations in our clinical trials program

Learn about additional treatment options for cervical cancer. 

Highlights of Our Ovarian Cancer Treatment Program Include:

Cytoreductive (debulking) surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which extensively removes cancerous tissue followed by applying cancer-fighting drugs directly into the abdominal and pelvic area, increasing its effectiveness in killing any remaining cancer cells
  • Pelvic floor reconstruction procedures that can restore continence and reduce discomfort
  • Image-guided radiation delivery systems that can accurately target radiation to tumor sites while minimizing exposure in normal, healthy tissues
  • Fertility-preserving options for patients who wish to have children after cancer treatment
  • Innovative ovarian cancer clinical trials with treatments that may be more effective and less toxic, including cancer-fighting viruses, immunity-boosting vaccine therapies and drugs that can overcome the cancer’s defense mechanisms

Learn about additional treatment options for ovarian cancer.

Highlights of Our Endometrial/Uterine Cancer Treatment Program Include:

  • Minimally invasive and robotic surgery, which uses smaller incisions than a traditional open procedure, resulting in less blood loss, reduced pain, shorter recovery time and quicker return to normal activities
  • Cytoreductive (debulking) surgery, which can improve outcomes and increase likelihood of a cure
  • Advanced radiation therapy delivery that is more focused on cancerous cells with less exposure on surrounding normal tissues
  • Fertility-preserving therapy options for young women who want to preserve their fertility after cancer treatment
  • Intraperitoneal (IP) and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which can improve outcomes for women with advanced cancers.

Learn about additional treatment options for endometrial/uterine cancer.