The mission of UofL Physicians – Gynecologic Oncology Associates, housed within UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center, is to bring outstanding minimally-invasive robotic surgery for gynecologic malignancies and benign gynecologic conditions to Louisville, Ky., and the surrounding region.
Gynecologic Cancer Treatments
UofL Physicians – Gynecologic Oncology Associates specializes in the treatment of gynecologic cancers including:
- Cervical cancer
- Gestational trophoblastic disease
- Ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Vaginal cancer
- Vulvar cancer
Our specialists are trained in the latest clinical modalities that are constantly enhanced by our physicians’ basic science and clinical research to treat all facets of the disease, from detection to treatment.
Collaborative treatment is most effective. Our physicians focus on superior, individualized care for each patient through the use of multidisciplinary teams of gynecologic oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, diagnostic radiologists, pain and palliative care physicians, oncology nurses and social workers.
Our gynecologic oncologists also collaborate with other physicians and genetic counselors on patients who are at higher risk of developing these genetic diseases. BRCA testing and genetic risk assessment is available through our genetics nurse practitioner.
Our physicians are at the forefront of robotic surgical procedures that allow complex cancer surgeries to be performed less invasively with faster recovery times, less pain and lower risks of complication. In addition to surgery, your gynecologic oncologist will advise other treatments that may be needed including chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Your provider will also work with a radiation oncologist for any radiation therapy that may be needed.
Brown Cancer Center offers research and clinical trials to ensure patient access to cutting-edge therapies. We are a leader in immunotherapies, developing new combinations of drugs to more effectively treat cancer.
Treatment of Benign Gynecologic Conditions
Our gynecologic oncologists also care for patients who do not have cancer. In some cases these conditions can be a pre-cancerous growth that needs to be removed or other conditions which may require gynecologic surgery including:
- Abnormal Pap smears (cervical dysplasia)
- Ovarian cysts, masses and fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Noncancerous (benign) tumors of the female reproductive tract (ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina or vulva)
If you have any of the symptoms associated with these conditions, contact your gynecologist right away. We advise yearly pelvic examinations to screen for precancerous cell growth. UofL Physicians – Gynecologic Oncology offers a variety of treatments and services for benign gynecologic conditions including:
- Minimally invasive advanced laparoscopic and robotic and computer assisted robotic surgeries for removal of the uterus (hysterectomy), ovaries (oophorectomy) and uterine fibroids (myomectomy)
- Loop electrical excision procedure (LEEP): An in-office procedure for abnormal Pap smears (cervical dysplasia)
- BRCA testing for hereditary cancer
- Diagnostic procedures, such as pelvic examination, colposcopy (in-office procedure that examines the cervix, vagina, and vulva to evaluate abnormal Pap smears), endocervical curettage (spoon-shaped instrument that obtains a small tissue sample of the mucous membrane leading from the cervix to uterus to check for abnormal cells), biopsy, and core biopsy
Surgery options may include:
- Laser surgery (burns or vaporizes abnormal cells or removes small sections of tissue)
- Conization (removal of a cone-shaped section of tissue with surgical knife, laser or LEEP)
- Hysterectomy (removal of some or all of the reproductive organs)
- Radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node removal (removal of tissue around cervix and lymph nodes for treatment of cervical cancer)
- Pelvic exenteration (removal of reproductive organs, lymph nodes, and possibly of the bladder, vagina, rectum, and part of the colon)
UofL Physicians – Gynecologic Oncology Associates, is located on the third floor of UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center.
The new space has a modern, calming aesthetic featuring large exam rooms and integrated technology for patient education. Gynecologic Oncology offers minimally-invasive robotic surgery and other treatments for gynecologic malignancies (cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, vulvar cancers) and benign gynecologic conditions (abnormal Pap smears, ovarian cysts/masses/fibroids, endometriosis, benign tumors of the female reproductive tract).
UofL Physicians – Gynecologic Oncology also offers services at UofL Health – Medical Center Northeast and the UofL Health – Center for Women's Health at Mary & Elizabeth Hospital. Carolyn Palmer, APRN, also offers a Women's Sexual Health Clinic at the downtown location. To refer a patient or schedule an appointment, call 502-561-7220.
