New Trends in Gynecologic Oncology

The specialty of gynecologic oncology was established in the late 1960s to early 1970s to improve the well being of women with cancer. The pioneers in this field set out to establish an evidence-based approach to the care of women with gynecologic cancer, combining the modalities of surgery,chemotherapy, and radiation. The aging of the population is a social phenomenon that will present a challenge to clinical practice in the 21st century. Women constitute a majority of the elderly population as they outlive males by 5 to 7 years. Ovarian, endometrial, and vulvar cancers are diseases seen more commonly in postmenopausal and elderly women. Cervical cancer continues to be a significant problem in the elderly and is usually detected at a later stage in that population than in younger patients. However, age-adjusted cancer death rates have started to decline in the United States and other developed nations - thanks in large part to widespread screening programs that detect cancers at early, treatable stages - cancer in developing countries is on the rise. Rising life expectancy in those nations along with the adoption of 'Western' lifestyles will leave many more people vulnerable to cancer. Unfortunately, the early detection tools and treatment technology that have helped control cancer in wealthier lands are often not readily available in many other countries.Actually, quality of life has become the cornerstone of care for these patients, in addition to advancing survival through surgical technology, collaborative research trials, and molecular approaches to early diagnosis and management. Here I report my research activities during the three years of PhD.