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Gynecologic Cancer

Women throughout the Capital Region turn to St. Peter's Health Partners when they need expert gynecologic cancer care. We combine leading-edge treatments with compassionate support services to deliver the best possible outcomes.

Gynecologic Cancer Care at St. Peter's Health Partners: Why Choose Us?

At our award-winning cancer care program, you'll find:

  • Regional leaders: Our gynecologic surgeons excel in the latest techniques, including robotic-assisted gynecologic cancer surgery. We were the first surgeons in New York state to use the state-of-the-art da Vinci® Surgical System.
  • Community-centered care: We're committed to improving the health of the communities we serve. St. Peter's Health Partners offers free cervical cancer screenings for women who are uninsured or underinsured. Diagnosing and treating cervical cancer in its early stages leads to the best results.
  • National recognition: St. Peter's Hospital has received the Women's Choice Award® for America's Best Hospitals in Cancer Care since 2017. St. Peter's Hospital and Samaritan Hospital are also accredited as a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). St. Peter's Hospital has been named Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report.
  • Innovative treatments: We offer a range of leading-edge treatments that target gynecologic cancer. From robotic surgery to specialized drugs for hereditary cancers, you have choices when it comes to your care.

What Is Gynecologic Cancer?

Gynecologic cancers include cancer of the cervix, uterus, ovaries, vagina and vulva. Women over the age of 50 or with a family history of gynecologic cancer are at an increased risk. Having had HPV, a sexually transmitted disease, greatly increases your risk of developing cervical cancer.

Common symptoms of gynecologic cancers include:

  • Abdominal swelling or bloating
  • Abnormal bleeding between periods or after menopause
  • Changes in bladder or bowel habits
  • Pelvic or abdominal pain

Gynecologic Cancer Screening

Screening tests help us detect cancer before symptoms develop. When we can treat cancer early, therapies are more effective. Pap tests, pelvic exams and HPV tests are the most common types of screenings for most gynecologic cancers. Talk to your doctor about the right screening frequency for your age and risk level.

Gynecologic Cancer Diagnosis

If we suspect you have gynecologic cancer, we do a thorough physical exam and possibly blood tests to check for tumor markers (substances in the blood that indicate a tumor). We may also recommend one or more of these tests:

  • Transvaginal ultrasound: We use a wand-like ultrasound tool, inserted through the vagina, to take detailed pictures of your vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
  • Hysteroscopy: We use a thin, lighted tube (hysteroscope) to examine the inside of the uterus.
  • Colposcopy: We use a specialized microscope with a light (colposcope) to examine your cervix, vagina and vulva.
  • Biopsy: We may take a tissue sample from the cervix, uterus, ovaries, vagina or vulva. In some cases, we can do this in the doctor's office during a hysteroscopy or colposcopy. If the tissue is harder to access, a biopsy may require sedation or general anesthesia.

Gynecologic Cancer Treatment

Our cancer specialists are at the forefront of gynecologic cancer treatment. We offer the most innovative therapies with a personalized approach to care.

Medical oncology for gynecologic cancer

We may recommend chemotherapy or hormone therapy to treat gynecologic cancer. Our board-certified medical oncologists work closely with a team of geneticists to identify inheritable gynecologic cancers, such as ovarian and uterine cancer. A genetic risk evaluation can help us choose more effective treatments. Learn more about medical oncology .

Radiation therapy for gynecologic cancer

Our facilities in Albany and Troy offer a range of leading-edge radiation therapies for gynecologic cancer, including:

  • Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): We deliver radiation in the exact shape of the tumor, minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.
  • Stereotactic body radiation treatment (SBRT): This powerful, high-dose radiation therapy may require fewer treatments than traditional external beam radiation therapy.
  • Brachytherapy: This form of internal radiation therapy involves implanting tiny radioactive seeds close to the tumor.

Surgery for gynecologic cancer

Most types of gynecologic cancer require surgery . Our cancer specialists work with a team of highly experienced gynecologic surgeons to choose the right procedure for your needs. We may be able to remove early stage tumors using minimally invasive techniques, such as laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgery. We perform these procedures through tiny incisions in the abdomen. Benefits include:

  • Less scarring
  • Quicker recovery
  • Reduced postoperative pain

The most common approaches to gynecologic cancer surgery include:

  • Hysterectomy: We remove the uterus and cervix (total hysterectomy), as well as the upper part of the vagina (radical hysterectomy).
  • Salpingo-oophorectomy: We remove one of the ovaries and fallopian tubes (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) or both (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy).