This blog is about empowerment. As a practicing Gynecologic Oncologist, I see patients every day that have no idea where to turn, who to believe. This thing called cancer has shown up at their door, invited itself in, and propped its feet up on the coffee table without so much as a hello, thank you for dinner. They are thrown into this new world called oncology and have to make rapid, life changing choices at a moment's notice. How can you possibly provide 15 years worth of training to someone in a 30 minute consultation? I may not be able to comment on every topic in the Gynecologic Cancer world, but over time, I hope to be able to cover most topics enough to allow an adequate discussion with your doctor, or friend, or relative. Maybe, someone will stumble across this blog in their internet research on ovarian, uterine, vulvar, cervical, breast cancer and will prompt a simple question that will save their life.
Why do this? Sure, I have better things to do with my time. However, I have always been an advocate of teaching the patient. To this end, I am constantly giving lectures and workshops in my area teaching patients and the public what to ask, where to go. I love the interaction with patients when I am able to better their lives, and convey a small tidbit of the extensive education we have been through. I am a former member of the Board of Directors of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, now the Foundation for Women's Cancer. This is our national effort to get the word out, teach women about gynecologic cancers.
What is a Gynecologic Oncologist? This is a great question. When I was in medical school, a friend of the family had an ovarian mass and someone approached me about who they should see. My natural response- their OBGYN or the local medical oncologist of course. Boy was I wrong... although these can sometimes be good places to start, neither of these specialties are trained to handle the workup, surgery, and subsequent comprehensive therapy that a Gynecologic Oncologist can prescribe. Gyn Oncs start their training as OBGYNs but then spend an additional 3-5 years training in basic science cancer research, extensive surgical training, and chemotherapy and radiation therapy administration. I like to say that we are a combination of gynecologist, medical oncologist, and general surgeon all mixed into one. This is one of the few areas where the same doctor can follow you from initial symptoms, through diagnosis, treatment, subsequent followup, and beyond. This gives us unique insight into how an individual patient is going to do through each phase of their therapy, and a special bond between doctor and patient. All other cancers are diagnosed by one specialty, operated on by another, get chemotherapy from another, radiation from yet still another, and perhaps followup from another. Do they all communicate well? Does one know what the other is doing? Who does she turn to when she has a problem or question?
I plan on touching on a number of topics as we go. Once I have covered the basics, I may start in on the current issues facing gynecologic cancer patients, such as new research, trials, insurance coverage, etc. Please feel free to post and ask questions- I hope this blog is an interactive forum for everyone to learn from.
Until next time...
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