Gynae surgery

Gynaecological cancers can be devastating as they affect your sexual and reproductive health. Many women are afraid to discuss these very sensitive matters with their surgeon. There is always the option of harvesting eggs if fertility is desired and a frank discussion should be had about libido and the different look and feel of your genital area together with anticipated menopausal symptoms.

Ovarian cancer

Surgery generally consists of a cut which is up and down from above the belly button down. The big cut is because both ovaries, the uterus, a fat pad called an omentum (which hangs from the large intestine), lymph nodes and any other tumour nodules we may see need to be removed. Sometimes a piece of bowel needs to be removed and a colostomy (bag for the stool) is needed. It sounds scary and a lot but it’s important to remove as much of the tumour that is visible. You’ll be menopausal after the operation if you’re still menstruating.

You should not have sex for six weeks after gynaecological oncological surgery and will probably not be able to drive for that long too. It’s advisable to not lift heavy things and to make sure you’re not constipated and your bladder is functioning well. You may need to use a panty liner. Tampons must not be used.

Uterine cancer

Treated with a laparoscopic hysterectomy and a sentinel lymph node removal. This surgery is done with small cuts: one in the belly button and two others in the lower abdomen. The uterus is injected with a dye when you’re asleep; this tells the surgeon which lymph node to remove. Both ovaries are also removed because uterine cancer is generally oestrogen driven so we need to make you menopausal. Most women with uterine cancer are older and already menopausal but it can also affect younger women.

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is only treated with open surgery if it’s in the early stages. If it’s greater than a Stage 1, it’s treated with radiation and chemotherapy. The surgery is a radical hysterectomy (cervix, top of vagina and uterus are removed). The lymph nodes which supply the cervix are also removed. The ovaries are normally left in so you don’t become menopausal.

Vulvar cancer

This surgery unfortunately can be disfiguring and may need some plastic surgery. The lymph nodes in the groin and the involved skin are removed. The complications include swollen legs and a different looking vulvar area. It’s important to discuss sexual function.

You should not have sex for six weeks after gynaecological oncological surgery and will probably not be able to drive for that long too. It’s advisable to not lift heavy things and to make sure you’re not constipated and your bladder is functioning well. You may need to use a panty liner. Tampons must not be used.

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