Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer Patients Experience Improved Outcomes When Treated First by a Gynecologic ...( CHICAGO Sept. 24 /- For the first...),Health

CHICAGO, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, accumulated data demonstrates that women diagnosed with a reproductive cancer, especially ovarian and uterine (endometrial) cancers, experience improved outcomes when treated first by a gynecologic oncologist. The 2008 State of the State of Gynecologic Cancers: Sixth Annual Report to the Women of America, published by the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF), details these results.

Gynecologic oncologists are physicians committed to the comprehensive treatment of women with cancer. After completing four years of medical school and four years of residency in obstetrics and gynecology, these physicians pursue an additional three to four years of training in gynecologic oncology through a rigorous fellowship program overseen by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Gynecologic oncologists are not only trained to be skilled surgeons capable of performing wide-ranging cancer operations, but also are trained in prescribing the appropriate chemotherapy for those conditions and/or radiation therapy when indicated. Frequently, gynecologic oncologists are involved in research studies and clinical trials that are aimed at finding more effective and less toxic treatments to further advance the field and improve cure rates.

"While only approximately 1/3 of women with ovarian cancer receive their initial surgery for ovarian cancer from a gynecologic oncologist, those who do are more likely to experience the appropriate and recommended surgery," said Dr. Carol Brown, Medical Editor of the report and Associate Attending Surgeon, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. "Moreover, gynecologic oncologists are more likely to perform radical procedures during surgery resulting in a lower volume of residual disease. Data shows that patients operated on by surgeons more likely to use radical surgical procedures doubled their median survival time," she continued.

Endometrial cancer patients also hav
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