The team approach is vital in the treatment of uterine cancers.
Major cancer centers, including Memorial Sloan-Kettering, have a multidisciplinary gynecologic tumor board that reviews each patient's case and develops a treatment plan.
This team should include physicians with expertise in the following specialties:
- Gynecologic pathology
- Gynecologic radiology
- Gynecologic surgery
- Gynecologic minimally invasive surgery
- Gynecologic medical oncology
- General Gynecology
- Gynecologic radiation oncology
Because these physicians are subspecialized, they tend to be more experienced and expert in treating gynecologic cancers than physicians who treat many kinds of cancer.
The team should include other specialists to ensure that nonmedical needs are met, such as rehabilitation services and psychosocial support for patients and caregivers.
Major cancer centers are more likely to provide the most advanced treatment options and the greatest number of clinical trials. They are also likely to have the most experienced medical professionals as compared to hospitals that don't offer specialized gynecologic cancer care. Specialized gynecologic surgeons who are trained in and experienced with the latest technology, for example, have successfully removed tumors that some physicians have considered inoperable.
