Site-Specific Cancer Series: Gynecologic Cancer

Buy Book

Preface

Nurses and other healthcare providers who care for women with gynecologic cancers practice in a unique subspecialty of oncology. It is unique for several reasons. First, a gynecologic oncologist's training includes four additional years of a surgical fellowship in a certified gynecologic oncology program after completion of an obstetrics and gynecologic residency. During this fellowship, a full year is spent performing laboratory and clinical research on some aspect of gynecologic cancer. During the other three years, the physician learns the unique surgical skills and techniques necessary to perform gynecologic surgery, as well as the medical oncologist's knowledge and skills of caring for women undergoing chemotherapy. Therefore, most gynecologic oncologists in the United States care for women with gynecologic cancer throughout the entire cancer experience from diagnosis, surgery, and chemotherapy to follow-up well-woman care.

The second unique aspect of gynecologic oncology is the organization formed by gynecologic oncologists, the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) for the purpose of sharing knowledge with one another and other oncologists through publications and annual scientific meetings. SGO spawned the nursing group, the Society of Gynecologic Nurse Oncologists (SGNO), for nurses who practice this subspecialty and need the unique skills to deliver optimum care to women with gynecologic cancers throughout the trajectory of cancer care. Since 1983, SGNO has shared knowledge through publications and annual meetings and has become the known nurse experts in gynecologic oncology nursing.

The third unique aspect of gynecologic oncology is the Gynecologic Oncology Group, a national cooperative funded primarily by the National Cancer Institute expressly for the purpose of searching for better treatments for women with gynecologic cancers through scientifically designed clinical trials. All these aspects of gynecologic oncology translate into a dynamic subspecialty in which nurses may practice and also may find many professional opportunities.

This book is written by 20 of these unique gynecologic oncology nurse experts. Each was chosen for his or her expertise in a particular type of gynecologic oncology care. Each author shares knowledge gained by direct care of women with gynecologic cancer. Each desires to mentor other nurses in order to provide the best care for the courageous women who live with gynecologic cancers.