For ovarian cancer, consult a specialist in gynecologic surgery and chemotherapy
October 09, 2014
IN THE NEWS: Women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer should seek out a specialist in both gynecologic surgery and cancer treatment, says UCI Health gynecologic oncologist Dr. Leslie M. Randall.
"Because the disease is so complicated, and sometimes the chemo and surgery go hand in hand, it’s really important to have somebody who knows both sides of the coin to be involved in their care," Randall tells U.S. News & World Report.
A good indicator of a quality ovarian cancer program is one that gives women access to hyperthermic intraoperative peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), adds Randall, a member of the UCI Health Ovarian Cancer Center who performs HIPEC at UC Irvine Medical Center.
While not all women are candidates for the HIPEC, which involves bathing the abdominal cavity with a drug designed to kill microscopic cancer cells immediately after the visible tumor or tumors have been removed, the procedure should at least be an option, Randall says.
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