What is a gynecologic oncologist?
Gynecologic oncologists are specialists in the area of female reproductive cancers. By training, they are ob-gyns with an extra specialty added on. This means they complete 4 years of ob/gyn training after medical school, and then 2-4 years of more specialty training beyond that. They are trained in all the treatments used for gyn cancers – surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and experimental treatments. What can a gyn-onc do that other doctors can’t? Not only do gyn-oncs learn to do surgery on the female reproductive system, but on all the organs of the pelvic and abdominal tissues and organs which may be involved if cancer has spread. Perhaps most importantly, they are extensively trained in the vital techniques of surgical staging and cytoreductive surgery (also called “debulking”). These procedures can ultimately be a matter of life and death. In Susan’s case, for example, accurate surgical staging did not take place. Even when other specialists perform surgical staging procedures, t
Related Questions
- The doctor who diagnosed my cancer is a gynecologist. Should I see a gynecologic oncologist (specialist in cancers of the female reproductive tract)?
- One of the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer and Uterine Fibroids is bloating. Can you explain bloating and ovarian cancer tests?
- What is a gynecologic oncologist?
