Gynecological Malignancies and Radiation Therapy: A Comprehensive Review

Jacqueline (Kim) Mylan, MBA, R.T.(T)(ARRT)

^*Program Dean and Instructor Emeritus, Radiation Therapy, Cambridge College of Healthcare and Technology, Delray Beach, FL.

Address correspondence to: Jacqueline (Kim) Mylan, MBA, R.T.(T)(ARRT). E-mail: jkimmylan@yahoo.com.

Disclosure statement: The author reports having no significant financial or advisory relationships with corporate organizations related to this activity.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this course is to review the most often detected and diagnosed gynecological cancers, namely cervical, endometrial, ovarian, vaginal, and vulvar cancers, and the best treatment options for each. To begin, a comprehensive review of the female reproductive system and important anatomical knowledge needed by healthcare providers and radiation therapists is detailed. A complete summary of the basics of each cancer is described, including etiology and epidemiology, natural history, and clinical presentation. Typical detection and diagnostic tools as well as guidelines and screening for each cancer type are outlined, including a thorough comparison of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics' and the American Joint Commission on Cancer's staging systems. Gold standard treatments including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy are explored. The prognosis for patients with each cancer type is noted and the need for psychosexual counseling is discussed.