Tacoma General Hospital

Home | Bill Pay | MyMultiCare | Jobs | About Us | Ways to Help | For Staff

• MultiCare Regional Cancer
  Center
• Dr. Richard C. Ostenson
  Cancer Center
• Types of Cancer
  • Breast Cancer
  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Gynecological Cancer
     
  • Lung Cancer
  • Neurological Cancer
  • Prostate Cancer
   
• Patient Resources
• Find a Location or Doctor
 

Gynecological Cancer

Gynecological cancer is a group of cancers that affects tissues and organs of the female reproductive system. The three most common gynecological cancers are cervical, endometrial (uterine), and ovarian.

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the rapid, uncontrolled growth of severely abnormal cells on the cervix. Fortunately, when detected at an early stage, cervical cancer is highly curable. Pap test screening, when done regularly, is the single most important tool for preventing cervical cancer because it can detect abnormal cervical cell changes before they become cancerous, when treatment is most effective.

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer happens when abnormal cells grow in one or both of your ovaries. This cancer is often cured when it is caught early. The cause of ovarian cancer is not known. Some women who have it also have a family history of cancer. Some women are more likely than others to get this rare cancer. They include women who are past menopause or who have never been pregnant.

Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is the rapid and uncontrolled growth of cells in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. The uterus is the hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman's abdomen. Endometrial cancer usually occurs in women older than 50. Fortunately, it is highly curable if detected at an early stage when the cancer is still contained in the uterus. Most women with endometrial cancer are diagnosed in the earliest stage, and up to 93 percent of these women are cancer-free five years after treatment.

Gynecological Cancer Treatments

During your treatment, you will work with a team of doctors and professionals dedicated to helping you choose the most effective cancer treatment plan that meets needs. The following are the most common forms of treatment. Your physician can explain each option more thoroughly, and help you determine which option, or combination of treatments, is best for you.

Surgery. MultiCare is the first health care network in Pierce County to offer robot-assisted surgery using the da Vinci® Surgical System. Using this breakthrough technology, surgeons operate with greater precision and control, while making a smaller incision. This minimizes the pain and risk associated with traditional surgeries, offers excellent success rates, and an easier, faster recovery.

Radiation. Radiation therapy is often the most effective treatment for gynecological cancers at any stage of development. A leader in providing the most advanced treatments and therapies available, MultiCare Regional Cancer Center offers intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) an external radiation therapy that more precisely targets a cancerous tumor while sparing the healthy surrounding tissue.

MultiCare also provides internal radiation treatment is called brachytherapy. In brachytherapy, radiation is directed into the vagina and uterus. This treatment can be given in the outpatient setting.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy involves the use of anti-cancer drugs to treat cancer. These drugs are designed to work by interfering with the rapidly dividing cancer cells in your body. Your doctors may suggest chemotherapy as form of treatment before or after surgery. Chemotherapy is usually administered intravenously (through the vein) or orally in the form of pills. Your doctor may recommend additional medications to help alleviate chemotherapy-related side effects.

In addition to the therapies described above, the MultiCare Regional Cancer Center offers complementary and alternative therapies such as nutritional therapy, physical therapy and emotional counseling. Our physicians and staff are with you every step of the way in your cancer journey.

To learn more about the treatment that’s right for you, call the MultiCare Regional Cancer Center at 253-403-2346 or the Dr. Richard C. Ostenson Cancer Center at 253-697-HOPE.

They can help you choose the next step that's right for you.