Gynecologic cancers are cancers that start in the female reproductive organs. Any cells in these organs can grow out of control and spread to other tissues and organs.

If you have a gynecologic cancer or are at risk for it, you’ll receive care from a gynecologic oncologist. We'll review your specific anatomy with you during your visit and answer any questions.

The most common types of gynecologic cancers are uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancers. Cancers can also arise from the fallopian tube, peritoneum, vulva, vagina, or abnormal pregnancy tissue.

Gynecologic cancer includes:

• Cervical cancer: Start from cells that line the inner or outer cervix. They can also start from the gland cells that create mucus. We also treat neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix. This is a rare and aggressive type of cervical cancer.
• Uterine cancer: Also called endometrial cancer. These start in the inner lining of your uterus (endometrium). This is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system. Rarely, they can start in the muscle layers of the uterus (uterine sarcomas).
• Ovarian cancer: Most start from the cells on the outside layer of your ovary. But they can also grow in the cells of your fallopian tubes, those that make your eggs (germ cells) or hormones (stromal cells).
• Vaginal cancer: A less common gynecologic cancer, these usually start in the lining of the vagina or the gland cells. We also treat very rare types of vaginal cancer. These include melanomas (from colored skin cells) and sarcomas (muscle cells).
• Vulvar cancer: Most often starts in the outer or inner lips (the labia). It can also start on your clitoris or from structures called Bartholin glands.
• Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: Cancer that grows from abnormal pregnancy tissue.

To fight cancers that grow in the female reproductive tissues, you need a team of experienced professionals at your side. Carilion has that team. 

Our cancer care team includes: 

• Gynecologic oncologists
• Radiation oncologists
• Pathologists
• Radiologists

We routinely meet to combine our expertise, and we work together behind the scenes.

Our experts care for your fertility and sexual health, as well as your cancer. We offer fertility-sparing options if possible. If you want to have kids in the future, you can work with our fertility preservation partners.

Cancer surgery

Surgery is one of the main treatments for gynecologic cancers. We may use surgery in many ways, including to diagnose your cancer, to see how far it has spread and to remove it.

Our surgeons are experts in less invasive techniques. We use the latest protocols to lower your surgical risk and recovery time.

These are some of our most common surgeries:

• Hysterectomy: Removal of the uterus and cervix.
• Trachelectomy: Removal of the cervix. Leaves your uterus in place and preserves your fertility.
• Salpingo-oophorectomy: Removal of one or both tubes or ovaries.
• Staging surgery: Biopsies or removal of tissues, including lymph nodes, to find out how far cancer has spread.
• Tumor debulking: Surgery to remove cancer that has spread.
• Vulvectomy or vaginectomy: Removal of part or all of the vulva or vagina.

Radiation therapy

Radiation is high-energy rays that target and kill cancer cells. We often use radiation either after or instead of surgery. 

We work closely with the radiation care team when it's part of your care plan. Our radiation care team ensures the cancer is the target, not the surrounding healthy organs.

The most common types of radiation therapy for gynecological cancers are:

• External beam radiation: We use a machine outside your body to deliver radiation to the site of disease.
• Internal radiation therapy: Radiation delivered directly to the vagina or cervix. We also call this brachytherapy.

Cancer medicines

Sometimes, it's necessary to use medicine that can travel through the body, seeking to kill or control the growth of cancer cells. Clinical trials and research on cancer biology have led to many new medicines to treat gynecologic cancers. 

Types of medicines for gynecologic cancers include:

• Non-targeted: Chemotherapy kills rapidly growing cells. Not everyone needs chemotherapy; your doctor will review your options with you.
• Hormone therapy: These medicines work on gynecologic cancers with hormone receptors. By interfering with a cancer cell’s hormone signals, sometimes we can stop it from growing and make it more likely to die.
• Immunotherapy: Medicines that instruct your immune system to attack cancer cells.
• Targeted therapy: Some cancer cells have a signature that we can target. Medicines called targeted treatments use these targets to attack cancer. They leave healthy cells relatively untouched.
• Topical therapy: Sometimes used for precancers of the vagina or vulva.

We also use some of these medicines long-term to stop cancer from coming back. This is maintenance care.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are another way to fight cancer. We may study a new medicine or protocol or compare it to the current best therapy. We may also study ways to improve your quality of life. Your care team may ask you to consider a trial as a part of your care plan.

These studies are voluntary; you'll talk to your doctor before enrolling. A trial can be a first treatment option or an option if your treatment stops working.