NorthShore University HealthSystem's Gynecologic Oncology Program provides a full spectrum of care for women with a variety of cancers. Our award-winning gynecologic oncologists are on faculty at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and are board-certified in gynecologic oncology and obstetrics and gynecology. They have extensive experience in the diagnosis, treatment, and research of cancers of the female organs, including:
Effective management of gynecologic cancers can make the difference between mere survival and a return to good health. A multidisciplinary team of physicians oversees the continuum of care for each patient, which may include genetic counseling and screening, and medical treatments including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. This approach is the cornerstone of NorthShore University HealthSystem's Kellogg Cancer Centers and has been replicated by cancer centers worldwide.
Research
One of the many advantages of an academic healthcare organization is the opportunity to participate in leading-edge research studies of new treatments not available anywhere else.
Dr. Gustavo Rodriguez has pioneered groundbreaking studies into the area of ovarian cancer detection and prevention, where he seeks to develop an effective pharmacologic approach to preventing ovarian cancer. Routine use of oral contraceptives reduces ovarian cancer risk by 30 to 50 percent, suggesting that a pharamacologic preventative approach is feasible. Dr. Rodriguez's recently published discovery that the protective effect of the birth-control pill appears to be a biologic process related to progestins signifies a major step in the battle against ovarian cancer. By understanding the biologic mechanism underlying this protective effect, researchers hope to develop ovarian cancer preventatives that are even more effective and more broadly applicable than the oral contraceptive. This would be especially good news for women beyond their childbearing years who have no option for ovarian cancer prevention beyond surgical removal of their ovaries.
Dr. Carolyn Kirschner provides a wide range of services, including colposcopy, surgery and chemotherapy administration. Her special areas of interest include benign breast disease, international health and the integration of faith and healing.