UT Southwestern Medical Center offers gynecologic cancer patients access to the latest treatments in a compassionate, modern environment. Our surgeons have special expertise in all aspects of gynecologic cancer surgery, including radical cytoreductive surgery and minimally invasive surgical options for treating all types of gynecologic cancers. We use state-of-the-art surgical techniques for cancer staging, radical hysterectomy, and radical vulvectomy.

Nationally Ranked in Cancer Care

UT Southwestern Medical Center is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's top 20 hospitals for cancer care, and we are rated as "High Performing" in gynecological cancer surgery, placing us among the leading facilities in the U.S. for this procedure.

What Is Gynecologic Cancer?

Gynecologic cancer is cancer that starts in the female reproductive organs. These cancers occur when cells grow out of control in areas such as the uterus, cervix, ovaries, vagina, or vulva.

Each gynecologic cancer is different. Symptoms, risk factors, prevention, and treatment can vary by the type of cancer and how far it has spread. In general, treatment works best when cancer is found early, so it’s important to talk with a doctor about unusual symptoms.

What Are the Types of Gynecologic Cancer?

Gynecologic cancers are named for the locations where they begin and include:

Gestational trophoblastic disease, which occurs in pregnant women, is also considered a gynecologic cancer, but it’s rare.

What Are Gynecologic Cancer Causes and Risk Factors?

Gynecologic cancer happens when changes in the DNA of cells in the female reproductive organs cause the cells to grow out of control. This usually does not have one single cause.

Certain factors can raise a woman’s risk of gynecologic cancer, such as:

• Older age, with most diagnoses occurring after menopause
• Obesity
• A family history of gynecologic cancer
• Inherited gene changes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and Lynch syndrome
• Certain human papillomavirus (HPV) infections

Why Choose UT Southwestern for Gynecologic Cancer Treatment?

As the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in North Texas, we deliver the best gynecologic cancer care available today and push to discover new treatments. NCI designation means we offer patients the ability to participate in the broadest possible range of clinical trials, with access to potential therapies not available at other facilities.

Experienced Team, Most Advanced Gynecologic Cancer Treatments

Gynecologic cancer survival and outcomes are improved when cancer treatment is obtained from highly skilled and specialized cancer surgeons. Treating these cancers can be challenging, either because they often aren’t discovered until they are fairly well advanced or because of their surgical and medical complexity. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced gynecologic cancer team fighting for each patient, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

At UT Southwestern, our gynecologic cancer specialists are skilled in cancer staging, radical gynecologic cancer surgery, and minimally invasive surgical options. In addition, our experts have access to the most advanced chemotherapies and targeted drugs and use the latest techniques in tissue-sparing radiation therapy.

As an academic medical center, UT Southwestern regularly conducts gynecologic cancer-related clinical trials. These programs give our patients access to the latest medical and surgical treatments. We encourage patients to talk with their doctor about access to clinical trials.

Gynecologic Oncology Prevention

We offer comprehensive screening and prevention services for women with a hereditary risk for gynecologic cancers, including ovarian, fallopian tube, and endometrial cancer. Services can include risk assessment, genetic counseling, preventive surgery, and proactive medical management.

How Is Gynecologic Cancer Diagnosed?

The tests and tools used to diagnose gynecologic cancer depend upon the type and location of the suspected cancer, as well as factors such as the patient’s medical history and overall health status. A detailed diagnosis helps the doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center create the right treatment plan for each patient.

The Simmons Cancer Center’s gynecologic cancer specialists use the most advanced diagnostic tools available, such as:

• Imaging studies: Including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET)
• Transvaginal ultrasound: Uses an ultrasound probe placed in the vagina
• Endoscopy: Using a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) to visualize parts of the female reproductive system
• Tissue biopsies and body-fluid samples: Providing small samples of suspicious tissue for UT Southwestern pathologists to evaluate
• Molecular tissue testing: For determining tumor-specific genes, proteins, and other characteristics

Learn more about how our specialists diagnose specific gynecologic cancers:

Diagnosis might occur in our office or in consultation with a referring obstetrician/gynecologist.

How Is Gynecologic Cancer Treated?

Cancer specialists at the Simmons Cancer Center offer the latest treatments for gynecologic cancers. Based on the diagnosis, we work with patients to determine the right treatment plan for every individual.

Surgical Cancer Treatments

Gynecologic cancer is different for every woman, and surgery is often part of the treatment plan to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Reducing the size of the tumor improves the efficiency of subsequent chemotherapy or radiation therapy because there will be less tumor to treat.

When surgery is part of a patient’s individualized treatment plan, specialists at UT Southwestern use minimally invasive techniques or open techniques such as radical tumor debulking surgery, radical hysterectomy, or radical vulvectomy to achieve the best possible surgical outcome. Our gynecologic cancer experts are trained in both advanced laparoscopic or robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery to help patients recover faster, return to their normal lifestyle, or start the next phase of treatment sooner.

Our team also has special expertise in dealing with complications from prior gynecologic cancer therapies. These complications can result in fistulas that require repair by our experienced surgeons.

Types of Surgery for Gynecologic Cancers

Different kinds of gynecologic cancers benefit from different kinds of procedures. Surgery typically involves removal of the tumor but might also include removal of the cervix, uterus, ovaries, or other pelvic organs.

Surgical procedures for gynecologic cancers include:

• Debulking surgery: Removes as much of the tumor as possible, typically in preparation for chemotherapy so there will be less tumor to treat. This technique is used most often for ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers.
• Total hysterectomy: Removes the uterus and the cervix.
• Radical hysterectomy: Removes the uterus, cervix, and part of the vagina; might also remove the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or nearby lymph nodes. This technique is most commonly used for cervical cancers.
• Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: Removes one ovary and one fallopian tube.
• Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: Removes both ovaries and both fallopian tubes.
• Omentectomy: Removes the omentum (a fat pad within the abdominal cavity).
• Lymph node removal: Removes some or all lymph nodes affected by cancer.
• Radical vulvectomy: Removes cancerous growth occurring on the vulva skin.
• Fertility-preserving surgery for cervical cancer: This is also called a radical trachelectomy, a technique that enables the preservation of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes while removing the cervix.

Fertility-Preserving Treatment for Gynecologic Cancers

Endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancers can occur in women who are of reproductive age. Our gynecologic oncologists are experts at providing fertility-preserving treatments for all of the above cancers when appropriate.

Treating Gynecologic Cancer with Medications

Cancer treatments that use medications are an option for some women with gynecologic cancer, depending on the type and stage of the cancer. Our gynecologic oncologists might prescribe:

• Chemotherapy: Uses drugs, usually injected into a vein or given by mouth, to kill cancer cells
• Immunotherapy: Involves stimulation of the immune system to help the body better fight gynecologic cancer
• Hormone therapy: Uses hormones to treat and prevent recurrences of some types of gynecologic cancers

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is an intricate and unique treatment that delivers chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdominal cavity through a catheter. Administered in some ovarian cancer cases, it directly targets cancer cells in the abdomen, minimizing drug exposure to healthy tissues. Only highly experienced gynecologic and surgical oncologists such as those in UT Southwestern’s gynecologic cancer program are able to offer this type of intense treatment.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is an essential treatment for most gynecologic cancers, whether it’s used as a primary/curative treatment or postoperatively, as an adjuvant therapy.

UT Southwestern maintains a state-of-the-art brachytherapy suite dedicated to treating cancers of the female reproductive system. Image-guided brachytherapy is very effective at killing gynecologic tumors while preserving the surrounding organs.

In the brachytherapy procedure, various applicators are inserted while the patient is under anesthesia. These applicators temporarily conduct a radioactive source to targeted tumor areas with a high level of precision.

The direct implantation of needles into a tumor is an often-complex procedure that requires a specialist to perform. In addition to our dedicated radiation oncologists, who are experts at the procedure, a team of gynecologic nurses, therapists, and anesthesiologists care for our gynecologic patients.

What Clinical Trials Are Available for Gynecologic Cancer?

As an academic medical center, UT Southwestern participates in clinical trials to help advance gynecologic cancer care. These studies may evaluate new treatments, new combinations of treatments, or new ways to improve outcomes and quality of life.

Patients can talk to their care team to see if they’re eligible or search for current clinical trials.