We offer dedicated care and treatment for patients with gynecologic cancers or pre-cancers. We diagnose and treat gynecologic cancers, which include vulvar, vaginal, cervical, uterine, fallopian tube, ovarian and primary peritoneal cancers. Additionally, we treat gynecologic pre-cancers, including vulvar dysplasia, vaginal dysplasia, cervical dysplasia and uterine hyperplasia.
Our experience
Our gynecologic oncologists are with our patients during every step. Both Dr. James Burke and Dr. Ashley Valenzuela are fellowship-trained in gynecologic oncology and specialize in diagnosing and treating cancer in a woman's reproductive organs. With compassion and expertise, our team provides care for:
- Cervical cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Fallopian tube cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Primary peritoneal cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Vaginal cancer
- Vulvar cancer
When possible, we use minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgical techniques to help our patients experience less pain and a faster recovery.
When to call a gynecologic oncologist
Any woman who has received a gynecologic cancer diagnosis should seek the expertise of a gynecologic oncologist. Some gynecologic cancers do not produce any symptoms and can only be detected with a Pap smear, blood work or biopsy.
However, the following symptoms may be signs you should seek medical attention:
- Abnormal bleeding, such as bleeding between periods, bleeding after intercourse, bleeding after menopause and unusually heavy or prolonged bleeding
- Constantly feeling swollen, bloated or full or ongoing gas, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea or constipation
- Feeling very tired all the time or shortness of breath
- Frequent, urgent, difficult or painful urination
- Pain during intercourse
- Pain, pressure or a mass in the lower abdomen or pelvic area
- Severe burning, itching or pain in the genital area
- Skin changes on the vulva
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unusual vaginal discharge or discharge with an unusual color or odor
Cervical cancer screening
A Pap smear is the primary screening method for cervical cancer. During the test, cells are collected from the cervix and examined for abnormalities. Women should begin cervical cancer screening at 21 years old and continue to be tested every three years until they are 29 years old.
At 30 years old, women are screened every five years until they are 65 years old. If a woman receives an abnormal Pap smear, testing may need to be more frequent. Anyone with an abnormal diagnosis should be tested for 20 years following the result, even if that continues past 65 years old.
Once women are 65 years old and older, regular screening can stop if no abnormalities have ever been detected.
If you've been diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer, ask for a referral to our GYN cancer care team. You can trust us to be right beside you in this fight.
