Things to Know about Gycological Cancers:

Fletcher Suit – tandem and ovoid arrangment of intracavitary brachytherapy

Pap Smears must be moist when sent for testing, usually taken on Day 10 (only good for detecting cervical cancer!!!)

Uterus is superior and anterior to the bladder

Lymph Drainage from the lower part of the body always goes to the left supraclavicular node

Lithotomy position -   A supine position in which the hips and knees are fully flexed with the legs spread apart and raised and the feet resting in straps.

PID – pelvic inflammatiory disease; is considered a condition that would make a patient inoperable for GYN Cancers

Midline Block : added when treating cervical cancer at 3000 – 4000 cGy.   The higher the dose given to Point A (TOTAL DOSE) the lower the dose the Midline Block will be added

*** when using BLOCKS for anything we are always blocking anything that DOES NOT NEED TO BE TREATED!!!!

Most important factor for Cervical cancers is STAGING

The earlier the age that Cervical Cancer occurs the more aggressive it will be (same as with breast cancer)

VAGINA

Botryoid Sarcoma – cancer of the Vagina that occurs in young (usually African) girls

• Appears as grapelike clusters
• Treated with SURGERY then the Vagina is recreated

Vagina Cancer:

• Most common histology is Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Treated the same as cervical cancer except the field is generally lower to include the external genetalia
• Surgery can be done