Treatments

Gynecologic Cancers Treatments

Northwestern Medicine offers advanced technology coupled with compassionate care designed just for women.

Your gynecologic cancer treatment will depend on your overall health, extent of the disease and your tolerance for various therapies. Treatment options may include:

• Surgery: The primary treatment for gynecologic cancer is often surgical removal of the tumor, the affected organ as well as the para aortic or groin lymph nodes. A specially trained gynecologic oncologist may use the da Vinci® Surgical System for minimally invasive, robotics-assisted removal of the tumor with greater precision, faster healing and less pain.
• Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses targeted radioactive waves to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is medication that is administered intravenously or orally to kill cancer cells.
• Hormone therapy: Hormone therapy may be used to kill or stop cancer cells from growing.
• Intraperitoneal chemotherapy: Part of the chemotherapy for ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer can be administered directly into the abdominal cavity. This approach has significantly improved long term survival for appropriate patients.
• Clinical trials: Clinical trials are studies to help researchers find effective cancer treatments.

Preserving fertility

When women of childbearing age are diagnosed with cancer, many are worried about losing the ability to have children. Fortunately, we are able to preserve fertility with some cases of gynecologic cancers.