Gynecologic oncologists are unlike any other cancer doctors. They treat only women’s cancers of the reproductive tract: cancers of the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina/vulva, and placenta. And they manage the entire cancer journey: they diagnose the cancer; give chemotherapy; perform surgery; lead the team of other providers such as radiation oncologists, cancer genetic counselors and oncology social workers; and provide follow up care well into survivorship.
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Focus only on cancers of the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina/vulva and placenta. They use robotic and other minimally-invasive surgery methods and perform radical pelvic surgeries, too. They use chemotherapy, immune therapies and targeted therapies. They work closely with cancer genetic counselors and oncology social workers from diagnosis through survivorship. And they create and manage clinical trials locally and nationally.
We operate on patients so we see the tumor,
we feel the tumor, we understand it
in a different way to be able to do the science and
fit the chemotherapy treatments to that person.
– Caroline Muller, MD, FACOG
Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Our new center provides a soothing, healing space dedicated to the needs of women and their families. The center offers medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, gynecologic oncology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, genetic counseling providers, and other services in one convenient space. The specialists here mostly provide care for women with breast or gynecologic cancers.
Manage the dose and path of radiation that targets cancer tumors in the uterus, cervix, vulva/vagina and sometimes ovaries. They use stereotactic body radiation, stereotactic radiosurgery and intensity modulated radiation therapy.
Jamina Oomen-Hajagos, PhD, MS, LCGC
Shawnia Ryan, MS, CGC
Lisa Mohler, MS, LCGC
Help you to learn about your risk of getting cancer based on your and your family’s medical history. The counseling may lead to genetic testing of you or a member of your family. UNM Cancer Center has the only licensed cancer genetic counselors in the state.
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Edwina Garcia, MSPAS, PA-C
May take medical histories, perform medical exams, give medications or injections, or perform certain medical procedures under the guidance of a physician.
Our gynecologic oncology team is dedicated to training the future experts in our field. We have a three-year specialty training program in gynecologic oncology and you will meet our future experts on your journey.
Evidence shows that the immune system recognizes ovarian cancers associated with BRCA gene mutations. We developed a treatment protocol specifically targeting these tumors with immune therapy and offer this regimen to patients at the UNM Cancer Center through a clinical trial. Our ongoing work focuses on expanding this protocol
so that we can help the most women with ovarian cancer.
– Sarah Adams, MD, describing original research
that led to a major clinical trial that uses immune therapy.
