A hysterectomy is a gynecological surgery to remove a woman's uterus and cervix. Physicians may recommend a hysterectomy for cancer treatment when a woman has been diagnosed with one of several gynecological cancers. The type of hysterectomy for cancer therapy the physician recommends depends on the kind and extent of the cancer.
For endometrial cancer treatment, physicians may recommend a total hysterectomy – the removal of the uterus and cervix. Cervical cancer treatment may require a radical hysterectomy, which involves not only removal of the uterus and cervix but part of the vagina and a wide area of ligaments and tissues near those organs as well. For ovarian cancer, a total hysterectomy may be accompanied by an oophorectomy for cancer, removing one or both ovaries and fallopian tubes. In addition, lymph node sampling and other staging biopsies may be performed at the time of hysterectomy.
A hysterectomy for cancer treatment plan may include other cancer therapies, including:
For women considering hysterectomy for cancer therapy, Brigham and Women's Hospital offers compassionate care from leading experts, in a medical facility with state-of-the-art technology.
Learn more about a hysterectomy for cancer.
A hysterectomy for cancer treatment at a world-class facility
The Gynecologic Oncology Program provides women with treatment for gynecological cancers, as well as the kind of compassionate support that patients and their families require to cope with the challenges of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. To provide comprehensive care, the Program's treatment team includes experts from many disciplines including gynecologic surgeons, medical oncologists, palliative care specialists, radiation oncologists, and other caregivers.
Hysterectomy patients at the Center may be eligible to participate in certain clinical trials, to help evaluate new therapies and medicines in the fight against cancer. Previous trials at the program have helped to pioneer many of the cancer therapies that are widely used today.
Minimally invasive hysterectomy
There are two main types of minimally invasive hysterectomy: laparoscopic and robotic. In both cases your physician removes your uterus through very small incisions, thereby improving the quality and time of your recovery. Brigham and Women's Hospital is a world leader in providing these surgeries, ensuring optimal outcomes. Based on the type of cancer you have, you and your physician will decide which procedure is best for you.
Learn more about Hysterectomy for Cancer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
