The Gynecologic Oncology Program at the Blumenthal Cancer Center offers comprehensive care for women with gynecologic cancers. The program provides all available treatment options including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and access to current research protocols. Counseling and other support services are available to assist women and their families in coping with cancer. The program also offers evaluation of difficult gynecologic problems for patients referred by their physicians. Other care offered includes reconstructive surgery for complete vaginal prolapsed and various treatment options for premalignant lesions of the female genital tract.

The Blumenthal Cancer Center provides opportunity for treatments which formerly required hospitalization. Outpatient treatment is provided in an area specially designed for infusions, chemotherapy and transfusions. The area is staffed by nurse specialists in chemotherapy, an oncology pharmacist, a nutritionist, a counselor and a chaplain.

The Gynecologic Oncology Clinic (open Monday through Friday) is staffed by a team of cancer experts, that review patient's plan for treatment.

Patients requiring hospitalization are cared for in a special area of Carolinas Medical Center which is dedicated to the care of women and includes 19 private rooms, kitchen facilities for families, and private consultation rooms. The nurses on 11B (the 11th floor of Carolinas Medical Center) are trained for the specialized care of women with gynecologic cancers. Carolinas Medical Center is an 861 bed academic teaching hospital that serves the southern Piedmont region of North Carolina.

Gynecologic Oncology Nursing Staff
The nursing staffs are advocates for women with gynecologic cancer. Knowledgeable and sensitive to the special needs of women, each nurse has extensive training in Gyn-Oncology nursing. Their expertise in nursing issues includes listening to and addressing patients' concerns and requests, assisting with colposcopy, cytoscopy, and urological evaluation, and office evaluation of gynecologic malignancies. They also aid in monitoring of lab values, coordinating pain management issues, and facilitating home healthcare services.

Chemotherapy Coordinator
The Chemotherapy coordinator assists the physicians in the education, assessment, and implementation of chemotherapy in women with gynecologic cancers. The coordinator is sensitive to the special needs women have during the period of chemotherapy administration. Side effects from chemotherapy are carefully monitored by the coordinator and in consultation with the physicians, appropriate treatment is initiated.

Multidisciplinary Physician Team: Physician members include gynecologic oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and radiation therapists

Patient Education and Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment
According to program director, James B. Hall, MD, "Sixty-five percent to 70 percent of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at stage III. Therefore the Gynecologic Oncology Program places a major emphases on patient education and risk assessment.

An ovarian cancer risk assessment is available to women who are concerned that they may be at risk for ovarian cancer. The initial consultation is performed by a certified genetic counselor, who verifies the patient's family medical history and estimates the risk. If indicated, consultation with one of the gynecologic oncologists is available.

For more information, please contact Blumenthal Cancer Center at 704-355-2884.

GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY EVALUATION AND TREATMENT
A multidisciplinary treatment plan for each patient is formulated after the initial consultation with one of the gynecologic oncologists. Women requiring hospitalization are cared for in a specialized nursing unit in Carolinas Medical Center.

Most gynecologic cancers require a multifaceted treatment approach. These may include cryotherapy; electrocoagulation therapy; and laser ablation for pre-invasive cancer of the cervix, as well as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy or other types of gynecologic cancer. The newest treatment approaches include gene therapy and vaccines.

The Gynecologic Oncology Program participates in research through the Gynecologic Group, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. A number of investigator-initiated studies available are unique to Blumenthal Cancer Center. Other innovative chemotherapy regimens are available through a relationship with major pharmaceutical oncology divisions. There are currently 22 open protocols for gynecologic cancer treatment.

The Women's Cancer Research Fund was established in 1998. Money contributed to this fund is matched, by the Carolinas HealthCare Foundation, up to $250,000. This fund supports basic research in ovarian cancer and cervical cancer by investigators in the Cannon Research Center of Carolinas Medical Center.

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