Gynecologic Oncology Definition

Gynecologic oncology refers to the field of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of so called "women's cancers," cancers which arise in a woman's reproductive system, according to Health Communities. Gynecologic oncologists are trained obstetricians/gynecologists who have further specialized in cancer care. Specifically, they deal with cancers of the uterus, ovaries, vagina, vulva and cervix, as well as trophoblastic disease, which are cancers that arise during pregnancy.

Cancer

• Normal cells in our bodies have regular life cycles; they are formed, they function and then they die by a process known as apoptosis, which means "programmed cell death". Healthy bodies continually produce new cells at a rate equal to those that die and in this way a balance is maintained. Cancer cells are those whose apoptosis mechanisms have gone awry; the cells simply don't die when they are supposed to, but they continue to divide forming more cancer cells which will stick together forming a mass or lump. The mass of cancer cells also has the ability to infiltrate surrounding tissues and travel to distant sites in the body, known as spreading or metastasizing, according to Gyncancer.com.

Risk Factors

• There is no singular cause for cancer, although many types have their own specific list of risk factors. The National Cancer Institute lists a number of risk factors for the various gynecologic cancers, including: family history of cancer, use of hormone replacement therapy drugs, smoking, never having had children, having had more than 5 children, human papilloma virus or HPV infection, obesity, having used birth control pills for more than 5 years and previous history of other types of cancer.

Symptoms

• The symptoms of gynecologic cancer may vary dependent on the site of the tumor, though they all share some common symptoms including: pelvic pain, painful urination, pain during intercourse, increased vaginal discharge, unusually heavy periods, bleeding between periods or during pregnancy and bleeding after menopause. The National Cancer Institute also lists the following symptoms that may accompany ovarian cancer: nausea, constipation, gas, bloating, distended abdomen, fatigue and pressure felt in the abdomen, pelvis, legs or back.

Treatment Options

• There are three main categories of gynecologic cancer treatments, being radiation therapy, chemotherapy and the surgical removal of tumors and/or organs such as the ovaries or uterus. Often, two or more of these treatments are used, according to the National Cancer Institute. Which types of treatments will be used will depend on a number of factors, including tumor location, the patient's age and general state of health and whether or not the tumor has spread to other areas of the body.

Considerations

• There are a number of factors for patients and their gynecologic oncologists to consider when pursuing treatment options. All therapies will have side effects, and so the benefits of their use must be weighed against these. As well, all of these treatments have the potential to cause infertility, and as such patients may be counseled regarding their future reproductive options where appropriate.