Gynecologic Cancer Care

Expert treatment delivered with empathy, understanding and kindness

Gynecologic Cancer Care at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham

When you’re facing gynecologic cancer, there’s no question that you want leading-edge medical experts on your care team. Just as important is to have caregivers who understand what you’re going through and respect your personal needs. At BID Needham, you’ll find both.

Here, we have highly skilled and experienced gynecologic cancer doctors. They’re joined by nurses who are consistently ranked among the nation’s top 5% of gynecologic nurses for patient satisfaction. Together, these caring professionals offer advanced surgical procedures and innovative therapies. We also offer a friendly ear and a sturdy shoulder to lean on when you need it. Our team sets the standard for gynecologic oncology in the Boston area.

Types of Gynecologic Cancers We Treat

We treat these and all other types of gynecologic cancer:

Cervical cancer
Ovarian cancer
Uterine cancer (endometrial cancer)
Vaginal cancer
Vulvar cancer

Screening & Diagnostic Services

Screening tests may help detect cervical cancer early, before you have symptoms. Two screening tests are used: a human papillomavirus (HPV) test and a Pap test.

Screening with a Pap test is recommended beginning at age 21. When you should have additional screening — and with which test — varies after that. Talk with your gynecologist or primary care provider to plan a screening schedule that’s best for you.

For other gynecologic cancers, there are no screening tests. However, if you have symptoms of cancer, you should tell your provider. We offer a full range of diagnostic services to determine if your symptoms are related to cancer.

Signs & Symptoms of Gynecologic Cancer

The following symptoms may be caused by gynecologic cancer:

Abdominal or back pain
Bloating, difficulty eating, or feeling full quickly when eating
Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge
Burning, itching or tenderness of the vulva; rash, sores, warts or changes in vulvar skin color
Pelvic pressure or pain
Urgent or frequent need to urinate and/or constipation

Keep in mind, these signs and symptoms aren’t always related to cancer. But if you have any of these symptoms, discuss them with your health care provider so they can investigate the cause.

Care Coordination with Your Provider

If your doctor refers you to us in Gynecologic Oncology, we respond quickly. We know how hard it is to wait. We can arrange diagnostic tests and other services you might need. And we always keep your doctor in the loop, with test results and medical notes.

Treatments for Gynecologic Cancers

If tests confirm you have cancer, you get personalized care from a team led by our gynecologic oncologists. We partner with pathologists and radiation oncologists who specialize in gynecologic cancer. We review your case and plan your best treatment.

Treatment might include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Often, it’s some combination of these treatments.

Your team also will include a dedicated gynecologic oncology social worker. They connect you to our extensive network of support services and give you a place to turn to if you have questions or concerns. We do all we can to help you address the emotional challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis as well as the physical ones.

Surgery

We offer a full range of advanced surgical treatments to determine the extent of your cancer (called staging) and treat it. This includes minimally invasive surgery. In fact, at BID Needham, we have one of the largest and most experienced minimally invasive surgical practices in the country.

Minimally invasive surgery is performed through small incisions using special cameras, tools and high-definition monitors. It may be done with a laparoscope (a thin instrument inserted into your abdomen) or robotics. For you, this can result in less pain, a quicker recovery and a lower risk of complications.

We offer a variety of procedures:

Fertility-sparing surgery for early-stage ovarian and cervical cancer
Minimally invasive ovary removal for premenopausal breast cancer survivors
Preventive surgery if you’re at high risk for ovarian cancer
Radical pelvic surgery
Reconstructive surgery
Second-look surgery and direct delivery of chemotherapy into the abdomen

Medical Oncology

Medical oncology is a key part of treatment. Our medical gynecologic oncologists are fellowship trained. We offer the latest treatments available. As members of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, we also work to create and study new treatments. This means you may have access to novel therapies to treat newly diagnosed cancer or cancer that returns.

Just like all our cancer doctors, our medical oncologists keep your primary care provider informed about your treatment. This makes it easier for your provider to resume and manage your care after your cancer treatment ends.