Gynecologic Cancers

Nurses who care for women diagnosed with gynecologic cancers are faced with a complex and unique set of challenges. Knowledge is needed, not only in the management of a single cancer, but many cancers that may affect the reproductive tract. Nurses must understand how to care for women who are undergoing treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation as well as the psychosocial needs of the survivor. This kind of holistic care touches the very core of both the women with cancer and many of the nurses that will treat them as, inevitably, they must confront “hot-button” issues related to female sexuality, infertility, hereditary causes of cancer, even past and present sexual encounters. This volume in the Site-Specific Cancer Series gives oncology nurses the tools needed to provide effective care to this challenging patient population. ‘Gynecologic Cancers’ provides an overview of the current evidenced-based information on the major types of gynecologic cancers, causes, screening and preventive strategies, as well as the current surgical, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments used to treat all stages of the cancers. Chapters in this new volume include anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the female reproductive tract; prevention and early detection of cancers of the cervix, ovaries, and endometrium; preinvasive disease of the cervix, vulva, and vagina; invasive cervical cancer; endometrial cancer; epithelial ovarian cancer; fallopian tube carcinoma, and primary peritonal carcinoma; nonepithelial ovarian cancer; gynecologic sarcomas; trophoblastic disease; vulvar and vaginal cancers; pelvic exenteration and reconstruction; acute symptom management; and long-term symptom management.