The goal of Gynecologic Oncology Center is to provide diagnostic and treatment services to gynecologic cancer patients in the best way we can by utilizing highest standards of modern technology and a healthcare team with up-to-date knowledge. Moreover, our aims and goals involve prevention of gynecologic cancer, early diagnosis thereof and delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic services for pre-invasive and invasive gynecologic diseases. Our priorities also include being among pioneering institutions at both domestic and international scale through scientific trials and providing our patients with the most advanced treatments.
Our team of Gynecologic Oncology Center works in line with our goals and ideals and improves itself in order to be a respected and principled clinic in national and international platforms. While we take steps through these goals, our major source of support is our patients who trust us with their lives. We understand all fears and concerns of our patients and work together with all our strength as a large team to rescue them safely from not just their diseases but also all these negative thoughts.
Gynecologic Oncology is the division that focuses on diagnosis and treatment of all cancers and precancerous conditions of female reproductive organs. These diseases are as follows;
Invasive Cancers
- Cervical cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Uterine cancer (including sarcoma – cancers that originate from uterine wall etc.)
- Vaginal cancer
- Vulvar cancer
- Fallopian Tube cancer
- Trophoblastic Diseases
Pre-cancerous Lesions
- Pre-cancerous lesions of cervix
- Pre-cancerous lesions of endometrium
- Pre-cancerous lesions of external genital area
Primary procedures and programs that make our division a reference center at national and international scale are as follows:
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Multi-Disciplinary Tumor Council
Our patients are discussed in detail in our Multi-disciplinary Tumor Council which holds a meeting every week. We try to provide our patients with the best possible treatment through these meetings where available treatment options are discussed for patients to reach a consensus by dozens of physicians from
Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Gynecologic Pathology Departments of American Hospital and Koç University Hospital.
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Fertility Preserving Cancer Treatment Program
Being diagnosed with cancer at young age is a weary process in all aspects that require patience and understanding. Anxiety is aggravated, when the risk of losing reproductive potential is added to this difficult process. This program that is jointly conducted by Gynecologic Oncology and In-Vitro Fertilization Centers offers detailed counseling on this issue for patients who are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer at their childbearing age. As is the case with all advanced centers of the world, our experienced team provide our patients with both surgical and medical options. This service involves all options ranging from
uterine and ovary conserving surgeries to oocyte and embryo cryopreservation and ovarian tissue cryopreservation.
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Diagnosis and Treatment Program for Genetic and Familial Predisposition to Cancer
Early diagnosis of genetic disorders that increase predisposition to cancer and screening all other family members allows prevention or early diagnosis in many cancer cases. We are able to diagnose approximately 100 genetic disorders with only one blood test in our clinic with the program we conduct in cooperation with Clinical Genetics Division. We maintain long term consultation and screening service for patients, who receive this diagnosis, and their relatives. Here, our primary aim is to detect and treat the condition before its actual onset or at very early stages.
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Diagnosis and Treatment Program for HPV-related Diseases
All consultation, diagnosis and treatment services regarding
genital condyloma (genital wart) that may occur in cervix, vulva or vagina and
possible pre-cancerous lesions (CIN, cervical dysplasia) – both caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) - are available in our clinic. Our gynecologic oncology team performs colposcopy – a procedure where tissues are examined under microscope – for further diagnosis of these lesions. If the procedures point to an advanced-stage condition, necessary treatments (
LEEP, Conization etc. ) are also performed by our experienced team. Moreover,
genital warts, which do not cause cancer, but have both visual and psychological negative effects on our patients, may impair their quality of life in all aspects and they are also treated in our clinic successfully (cauterization, cryotherapy etc.).
Surgery is the first and most critical stage in treatment of the o
varian cancer. The most important principle of the surgery is to remove all tumor tissues patiently and carefully until no visible residue is left. A residue-free surgery is directly proportional to success of treatment. This surgery is called ‘
Cytoreductive Surgery’. We can also perform most radical surgeries, which aim complete removal of the tumor, by collaborating with other clinics that offer advanced-level healthcare services, such as gastrointestinal surgery (surgery for stomach and intestines) liver surgery, thoracic surgery and urology, when required.
Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is performed in our clinic for selected patients after its advantages and disadvantages are discussed with the patient in detail. Moreover, early-stage ovarian cancers are treated successfully with
minimal invasive surgery (laparoscopic and robot assisted surgery).
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Endometrial (Uterine Wall) and Cervical (Uterine Orifice) Cancer Surgery
Recently, advanced technology and laparoscopic instruments allow ever-increasing use of minimally invasive surgery for treatment of
endometrial (uterine wall) and cervical (uterine orifice) cancers. Both laparoscopic and robot assisted surgeries are performed successfully for treatment of these cancers in our clinic.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy – a critical approach for these cancers - is performed using special dyes and
infrared technology. Moreover,
mini-laparoscopy which is less traumatic than conventional laparoscopic (closed surgery) procedures is among the techniques used in our clinic to minimize postoperative pain and discomfort. Same surgical treatments can be performed using much smaller devices with this method.
Our patients are discussed in detail in our Multi-disciplinary Tumor Council which holds a meeting every week. We try to provide our patients with the best possible treatment through these meetings where available treatment options are discussed for patients to reach a consensus by dozens of physicians from Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Gynecologic Pathology Departments of American Hospital and Koç University Hospital.
Being diagnosed with cancer at young age is a weary process in all aspects that require patience and understanding. Anxiety is aggravated, when the risk of losing reproductive potential is added to this difficult process. This program that is jointly conducted by Gynecologic Oncology and In-Vitro Fertilization Centers offers detailed counseling on this issue for patients who are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer at their childbearing age. As is the case with all advanced centers of the world, our experienced team provide our patients with both surgical and medical options. This service involves all options ranging from uterine and ovary conserving surgeries to oocyte and embryo cryopreservation and ovarian tissue cryopreservation
All consultation, diagnosis and treatment services regarding genital condyloma (genital wart) that may occur in cervix, vulva or vagina and possible pre-cancerous lesions (CIN, cervical dysplasia) – both caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) - are available in our clinic. Our gynecologic oncology team performs colposcopy – a procedure where tissues are examined under microscope – for further diagnosis of these lesions. If the procedures point to an advanced-stage condition, necessary treatments (LEEP, Conization etc. ) are also performed by our experienced team. Moreover, genital warts, which do not cause cancer, but have both visual and psychological negative effects on our patients, may impair their quality of life in all aspects and they are also treated in our clinic successfully (cauterization, cryotherapy etc.).
All consultation, diagnosis and treatment services regarding genital condyloma (genital wart) that may occur in cervix, vulva or vagina and possible pre-cancerous lesions (CIN, cervical dysplasia) – both caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) - are available in our clinic. Our gynecologic oncology team performs colposcopy – a procedure where tissues are examined under microscope – for further diagnosis of these lesions. If the procedures point to an advanced-stage condition, necessary treatments (LEEP, Conization etc. ) are also performed by our experienced team. Moreover, genital warts, which do not cause cancer, but have both visual and psychological negative effects on our patients, may impair their quality of life in all aspects and they are also treated in our clinic successfully (cauterization, cryotherapy etc.).
Surgery is the first and most critical stage in treatment of the ovarian cancer. The most important principle of the surgery is to remove all tumor tissues patiently and carefully until no visible residue is left. A residue-free surgery is directly proportional to success of treatment. This surgery is called ‘Cytoreductive Surgery’. We can also perform most radical surgeries, which aim complete removal of the tumor, by collaborating with other clinics that offer advanced-level healthcare services, such as gastrointestinal surgery (surgery for stomach and intestines) liver surgery, thoracic surgery and urology, when required. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is performed in our clinic for selected patients after its advantages and disadvantages are discussed with the patient in detail. Moreover, early-stage ovarian cancers are treated successfully with minimal invasive surgery (laparoscopic and robot assisted surgery).
Recently, advanced technology and laparoscopic instruments allow ever-increasing use of minimally invasive surgery for treatment of endometrial (uterine wall) and cervical (uterine orifice) cancers. Both laparoscopic and robot assisted surgeries are performed successfully for treatment of these cancers in our clinic. Sentinel lymph node biopsy – a critical approach for these cancers - is performed using special dyes and infrared technology. Moreover, mini-laparoscopy which is less traumatic than conventional laparoscopic (closed surgery) procedures is among the techniques used in our clinic to minimize postoperative pain and discomfort. Same surgical treatments can be performed using much smaller devices with this method.