Women's Cancer Care

Each year, approximately 840,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cancer. While most people tend to associate women primarily with breast, uterine, ovarian or cervical cancer, women also face significant rates of lung, skin, colon and other cancers. Cancer care services provide women with the support, tools, information and treatments they need to cope with cancer. 
Cancer care team members include doctors, nurses, physical therapists, social workers, dieticians, chaplains and others. Together, the team tailors care to the unique needs of each woman they treat.

Reasons for Cancer Care

Cancer affects every aspect of a woman’s life. Cancer care can help women and their families prevent, treat and cope with cancer. 

Cancer care services are for women who:

• Are at high-risk of cancer due to family history or a genetic mutation
• Have been diagnosed with cancer
• Are experiencing troublesome symptoms, such as a lump in the breast
• Are seeking a second opinion

Cancer Care Services Offered

Cancer care includes screening and prevention, treatment, and survivorship services. Screening and prevention services include:

• Mammography (including 3-D digital mammography), to screen for breast cancer
• Pap tests and HPV testing, to screen for cervical cancer and precancerous changes
• Genetic testing, to assess cancer risk, and genetic counseling

Treatment options include:

• Surgery
• Radiation
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Hormone therapy
• Clinical trials for cancer treatment

For those who have completed cancer treatment, a survivorship plan outlines the care and services cancer survivors need to stay healthy. Survivorship services may include:

• Screening tests
• Maintenance medication
• Follow-up exams and checkups
• Physical therapy

What to Expect 

For anyone who has been diagnosed, cancer care can be confusing, even overwhelming. You will meet many different healthcare providers and potentially undergo a variety of treatments as part of a multidisciplinary approach to care. Your care team members will work together to guide you through the process and give you the best possible chance of a positive outcome.
Care providers support all women by listening to your concerns, conducting a thorough medical exam, ordering tests as needed, and using that information to create a screening, prevention, treatment or survivorship plan that fits you, your lifestyle and your goals.