Division of Gynecologic Oncology

Welcome to the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at UC Davis Health System. Our team is committed to providing state-of-the-art medical and surgical care for every patient. The division is also a leader in cancer research, and its clinic in Sacramento is a primary site for clinical trials that can offer new hope for patients.

Overview

Located at the UC Davis Cancer Center, the gynecologic oncology team is part of the largest cancer program in inland Northern California. Its focus is the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancers, including cancers of the uterus, ovary, cervix and vulva. Women can take comfort in the experience of our dedicated oncologists, who are board-certified specialists. Our gynecologic oncologists are not only superb clinicians, but also are actively engaged in education, academics, and research  — which means they are at the leading edge of cancer care.

Our surgeons are highly skilled in minimally invasive techniques such as traditional and robotic-assisted laparoscopy, which may offer patients faster recovery times and less pain, scarring and blood loss than traditional surgery.  They also have expertise in fertility-preserving surgeries for women with gynecologic cancers, including radical vaginal trachelectomy and radical abdominal trachlectomy. Such procedures are available only at a handful of institutions nationwide.

The gynecologic oncology division works closely with specialists from medical oncology, radiation oncology, gynecologic pathology and related surgical subspecialties to provide a full range of expertise. UC Davis’ multidisciplinary treatment team includes social workers, nurse practitioners, dietitians, genetic counselors and pain medicine specialists. Services benefiting patients also include regular tumor boards, which bring together cancer experts to provide insights and recommendations about specific cases.

The division provides consultative and specialty surgical services on an outpatient and inpatient basis at UC Davis Medical Center, as well as at other hospitals in the Sacramento region. Its skilled team also participates in numerous educational and community outreach activities to continually build awareness about cancers that primarily affect women.

Advanced Research and Treatments

The close collaboration among doctors and research scientists at UC Davis means that new drugs and treatments developed in the laboratory can quickly move to the clinic, offering patients access to the latest therapies. For example, the university’s physician-scientists are investigating a new blood test that would allow early detection of ovarian cancer. They also collaborate with cancer researchers to develop new targeted treatments for ovarian cancer, which hold the promise for effective treatment with less toxicity. Our gynecologic oncologists have published extensively on clinical-outcomes research, which helps focus attention on best practices in cancer care.  In addition, patients at UC Davis have access to the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) and Southwestern Oncology Group (SWOG) protocols, which enable them to obtain the newest drugs and therapies before they become widely available.