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A Patient's Story
A Patient's Story
Read about Caroline's fight with early-stage cervical cancer

In addition to your doctors and nurses, other members of your healthcare team are available to help you and your family with the medical, emotional, social, and financial issues surrounding a diagnosis of cancer. Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Gynecologic Disease Management Team includes general gynecologists, psychologists, and social workers who provide a full range of supportive care.

Follow-Up Care

Survival from cervical cancer depends on how advanced it was when it was first diagnosed. Your doctor will want to see you periodically for regular Pap tests as well as pelvic exams and other tests. If you experience any new symptoms, please contact your doctor right away. The sooner your symptoms are evaluated and treated, the better your outcome will be.

Managing Complications

Memorial Sloan-Kettering doctors are focusing on several quality-of-life issues for survivors of gynecologic cancers. By knowing in advance what to expect, you can work with your healthcare team to minimize these effects.

    Premature Menopause

    Some treatments for gynecologic cancers may cause the early onset of menopausal symptoms: irregular periods, hot flashes, drying or thinning of vaginal tissues or the bladder, loss of interest in sex, insomnia and fatigue, and memory problems.

    At Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Barbara White Fishman Women's Health Center, women treated for gynecologic cancers can receive counseling and treatment to help them manage the symptoms of menopause and the increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease that can occur after menopause. Physicians at the Women's Health Center care for both young women who are experiencing the early onset of menopause as a result of cancer therapy and older women who have reached menopause naturally, but whose choices for managing menopausal symptoms are limited because of their cancer histories. The Barbara White Fishman Women's Health Center is located in Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion.

    Memorial Sloan-Kettering clinical researchers are currently enrolling women in a study that will assess the distress, sexual health, and quality of life experienced by women suffering from infertility related to therapy for gynecologic cancers. Doctors will use what they learn to design ways to better help women who must deal with the problem of infertility after cancer treatment.

Find a Clinical Trial
Find a Clinical Trial
Find out about new research studies for cervical cancer

    Sexual Health

    Some women find cancer therapy has affected their feelings and desire for sex. This is an important issue for many women, because treatments for gynecologic cancers sometimes result in side effects that cause vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, and reduced interest in sex. Don't be afraid to let us know if you are experiencing these problems and would like some help; we are here for you. Counselors at Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Sexual Health Program at the Barbara White Fishman Women's Health Center can help you discuss and address your concerns. They can also refer you to other doctors who treat any underlying problems that may be contributing to your concerns.

Role of Rehabilitation in Managing Complications

During surgery for removal of the uterus for cervical cancer, surgeons may remove regional lymph nodes in the groin. Physical therapists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering specialize in caring for patients after lymph node dissection and in educating patients on precautions to prevent injury and other resulting conditions. Some patients may develop lymphedema (a condition in which excess fluid collects in tissue and causes swelling, usually in the groin area), and therapists here are particularly knowledgeable about this condition. They instruct patients in managing their symptoms and reducing or stabilizing the swelling; caring for the skin in the affected area; regaining mobility after surgery; and identifying activities that tend to exacerbate the condition. To learn more about the role of rehabilitation services in the care of cancer patients, visit the Rehabilitation section of this Web site.

Other Aspects of Survivorship

To help patients manage some of the other issues that may come up in survivorship, Memorial Sloan-Kettering offers a wide range of programs for patients, including the following:

  • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Counseling Center

    Our Counseling Center offers individual and family counseling sessions to help patients and their families address the problems that they may encounter in adjusting to life during and after treatment.

  • Living Beyond Cancer

    People facing the challenges of cancer survivorship can access a variety of support services through the Living Beyond Cancer section of our Web site. This section includes information about professionally led support groups and counseling, survivorship clinics to manage late effects of cancer and treatment, recommendations about screening and healthy living, and specialized services to address sexual and reproductive health. We also offer a range of resources to help survivors, families, and friends better understand the complex emotional and social issues following treatment.

    Additional services are offered through our Post-Treatment Resource Program, which provides a full range of educational support services, including individual and family counseling, periodic lectures or workshops to provide medical updates, and practical guidance on employment and insurance issues.

  • Integrative Medicine Service

    Our Integrative Medicine Service is designed to enhance cancer patients' quality of life through healing regimens that address the body, mind, and spirit. Beneficial complementary therapies include various types of massage, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation, visualization and other mind-body therapies, music therapy, and nutritional counseling, as well as classes such as yoga, t'ai chi, and chair aerobics.

  • Screening & Wellness

    Memorial Sloan-Kettering provides numerous prevention, screening, and wellness services. Information about these services as well as guidance on how to stop smoking and how to follow a healthy diet can be found on our Web site in the Prevention & Screening section.


    Last Updated: Aug. 24, 2007
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