The role of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the BC Cancer Agency is to serve as a consultative and treatment service to patients with gynecological cancer in the province. Physicians are encouraged to consult with the group if they have concerns regarding any aspect of the diagnosis and management of patients with gynecological cancer. The Agency has a toll free number for this purpose: 1-800-663-3333, locals 2353, 2365 or 2367. Members of the divisional medical staff may be reached at these numbers.

It is the policy of the Gynecology Tumour Group to try and have all new patients discussed at a Gynecologic Oncology Disposition Clinic. The Friday Disposition Clinic is video linked with the Vancouver Centre, Fraser Valley Centre, Vancouver Island Centre and the Centre for the Southern Interior. This facilitates patient consultation and discussion of difficult clinical problems by this multidisciplinary group.

At this clinic, the patient's history, physical findings, laboratory reports and pathology slides are reviewed and discussed by members of the group. A treatment decision is arrived at and recommendations made to the patient and the referring physician. Those patients requiring surgery other than radical surgery are referred back to their attending physician unless it is the physician's desire that the surgery be performed by the Agency consulting staff. A Gynecologic Oncology opinion is available and is recommended even if it is anticipated that treatment is to be given entirely in the patient's own community in order to ensure uniform standards and quality throughout the province. This would also help to avoid undesirable delays in patient treatment because of failure to appreciate the "high risk" nature of lesions based on their histology.

A social worker who is attached to the Tumour Group is available to assist patients and their families with arrangements, etc.

The Department does conduct Tumour Conferences for the discussion of unusual or difficult management problems. This Conference is available for a more formal review of a patient management problem at the request of any physician.

Delay in the initiation of treatment and considerable patient anxiety can also occur because pertinent pathology and operative reports are not available. It would greatly facilitate matters if the referring physicians would send such reports and slides prior to the time the new patient appointment is requested. Frequently, patients discover at their new patient appointment that the time required for treatment is much longer than they realized. This has implications for their accommodation arrangements and, of course, for the general stress associated with the diagnosis of cancer. The average treatment times for standard course of radiotherapy employed for the common gynecological tumours is detailed in the sections listed on the menu bar.