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Treatment Options
It is our goal that you and
your family gain a thorough
understanding of the medical situation
you face. We are committed to answering
all of your questions, and we will work
together to develop a treatment plan.
Specific treatment options depend on
your overall health, medical history and
the extent of disease present. Most
important, however, is that you and your
family be empowered to help in the
decision making process. We will discuss
the risks and benefits of any reasonable
option available.
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“I am passionate about utilizing
minimally invasive surgical techniques
in the management of gynecologic
oncology. Less pain and a faster
recovery allow women to get back to
their lives more quickly, or in other
cases, allow them to begin additional
treatment for their condition with fewer
delays.”
-Dr. David Boruta
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Surgery – Most
gynecologic cancers are treated
effectively by surgical removal
of the tumor or the cancer
cells. In many other cases,
surgical procedures are
essential in determining the
extent or spread of a
gynecologic cancer. This is
critical to determine the need
or lack thereof for additional
treatment, such as radiation or
chemotherapy.
-Minimally Invasive
Surgery (laparoscopy) –
Minimally invasive
surgery involves
performing surgical
procedures through
smaller incisions.
Although the same
tissues and organs are
removed, minimally
invasive techniques
allow for significant
advantages to the
patient compared to more
traditional approaches
including less pain,
less complications,
shorter hospital stays,
and a quicker recovery
period.
-da Vinci® Surgical
System – An increasing
number of gynecologic
procedures may utilize
robotic assistance with
the da Vinci® Surgical
System. The system,
which is fully operated
by the surgeon, combines
the advantages of
laparoscopy, including
small incisions, along
with increased precision
and control.
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Chemotherapy –
Gynecologic cancers may require
treatment with medication.
Chemotherapy is used to kill
cancer cells that may have
spread from the place where they
initially developed. It is most
often given intravenously, but
in the case of ovarian cancer,
it is increasingly administered
in part directly into the
abdomen (intraperitoneal). Most
chemotherapy can be given on an
outpatient basis although some
regimens require hospitalization
and are given over a period of
several days. We work closely
with medical oncologists to
determine the need for
chemotherapy.
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Radiation Therapy
– Gynecologic cancers may
require treatment with radiation
therapy. High-energy radiation
can be extremely effective in
killing cancer cells that are
confined to small areas. We work
closely with radiation oncology
specialists to determine the
need for radiation therapy.
Three basic ways to deliver
radiation therapy include:
-External Radiation
(external beam therapy)
– A treatment that sends
high levels of radiation
directly through the
body in a very precise
fashion to cancer cells.
Radiation treatments are
painless and usually
last a few minutes.
-Intensity Modulated
Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
– A powerful, advanced
computer program plans
an even more precise
dose of radiation in
three dimensions, based
on individual tumor
size, shape and
location. Remarkably,
this cervical cancer
treatment method allows
for higher radiation
doses than traditional
radiotherapy methods,
while sparing more of
the surrounding healthy
tissue.
-Internal radiation
(brachytherapy or
implant radiation) –
Small instruments that
contain radioactive
substances called
radioisotopes are
inserted into or nearby
cancerous tumors.
Internal radiation
allows higher doses of
radiation to be
delivered directly to a
tumor, sparing normal
adjacent tissues and
organs, such as bowel or
bladder.
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