Unique specialty offers choice in healing for women with gynecologic cancers.

Receiving a diagnosis of cancer is one of the most frightening moments of many patients’ lives. Knowing where to turn for support and obtain a full explanation of your treatment options at that time is critical. This is why the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) Cancer Care Program offers access to treatment, support and choice in care, including access to one of the country’s rarest specialties — gynecologic oncology.

There are fewer than 1,000 board-certified gynecologic oncologists nationwide, and two of them are PAMF doctors. Dwight Chen, M.D., and Albert Pisani, M.D., treat women with known or suspected gynecological cancers. These are cancers of the female reproductive tract and include ovarian, uterine and cervical cancer.

Drs. Chen and Pisani are particularly good at complicated cases, such as treating a younger woman for cervical cancer while maintaining her fertility.

Like PAMF’s programs in brain, breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancers, our gynecologic oncology program offers access to the latest treatment advances and research trials. This supportive network of care includes services such as physical therapy and financial, nutritional, genetic and emotional counseling.

“It is not unusual for patients referred to me to hear ‘oncologist’ and just shut down with fear,” says Dr. Chen. “That is why I think establishing rapport with my patients is so important. Because many times fear comes from the unknown, my approach is to educate them about their cancer and their treatment choices.”

Care Focused on You
An added choice that women with gynecologic cancers have is the option of working one-on-one with Dr. Chen or Dr. Pisani throughout their cancer journey.

“Typically, when you are diagnosed with cancer, your primary care doctor will refer you to a team of specialists who work closely together to coordinate your care,” Dr. Chen explains. “When you are treated by a gynecologic oncologist, you have the option of working with a single doctor who will perform any needed surgery, oversee your chemotherapy, prescribe radiation therapy treatments and see you for follow-up care.”

Because this specialty is focused on just cancers of the female reproductive system, gynecologic oncologists keep up with all of the latest treatment advances in this area of medicine.

“Our field is advancing rapidly in both new treatment methods, such as new chemotherapy drugs, and in new, less invasive surgical techniques,” Dr. Chen says. “We participate in various clinical trials on an ongoing basis and both study and teach others new surgical techniques.”

To learn more about PAMF's comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer care, visit pamf.org/cancercare.

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