Compassionate care for women with gynecologic malignancy is available at the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, located adjacent to the Marshall Medical Center and Cabell Huntington Hospital. Appointments are available through physician referral. For more information, call 304-399-6609 or 304-399-6610.

Care of Women with Cancer

The Gynecologic Oncology Division provides a wide array of services for women with cancer. Due  to the wide variety of cancers that may affect the reproductive system, multiple treatment modalities are utilized to treat these cancers, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy.

 The majority of gynecologic cancers are treated with a combination of these modalities. Most often, surgery is combined with post-operative radiation therapy or chemotherapy. In some circumstances, surgery is deferred or postponed until after radiation or chemotherapy has been completed. The skill and training of a gynecologic oncologist allows him or her to assess the status of the cancer and bring the proper treatments in the proper sequence to bear.

Dr. Oakley works closely with physicians trained in Radiation Therapy to coordinate care for women with cervical, endometrial, vaginal or vulvar cancer. Not all women with these cancers will need Radiation Therapy, but when it is indicated, it is available.  In close association with the nursing staff of  the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Oakley manages and oversees the treatment program for  women with ovarian cancers or advanced cancers at other sites, when chemotherapy  is required. 

It is an unfortunate fact of life that sometimes cancer treatments are not enough to control cancers, and that some women will die of their disease. Dr. Oakley is well-versed and experienced in pain management, symptom management, palliative care and end of life issues. He works closely with Hospice Agencies from a number of counties to assist patients to maintain their quality of life.

Dr. Oakley's advice  for women in the March 21, 2005  article on ovarian cancer awareness, in the Health Source section of the Herald-Dispatch, is to be proactive with health care and to be their own best advocates.

Care of Women Without Cancer

Most of the additional training obtained by a gynecologic oncologist is in surgical techniques and management of more involved and difficult surgical challenges. OB/GYN specialists will sometimes refer difficult or involved surgical candidates to the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, even though those patients do not have cancer, because of the additional surgical difficulties expected. These women present a wide variety of challenges, from concurrent medical problems, to extensive adhesions, bowel involvement, bladder difficulties, severe prolapse of the female organs, or other factors complicating surgery.