At MaineHealth Gynecology Cancer Care - Scarborough, we diagnose, stage and direct the treatment of patients with gynecologic cancers. All of our doctors are board-certified or board-eligible, and are the only specialists in Maine to have undergone fellowship training in the advanced surgery and chemotherapy required to treat gynecologic cancers.
What is a gynecologic oncologist?
Gynecologic oncologists are cancer specialists trained in advanced surgery and in the comprehensive therapies required to treat cancers of the uterus, cervix, ovaries, vagina and vulva. We also offer opinions and provide treatment for suspected gynecological malignancy or other complicated symptoms.
Gynecologic oncologists are not only trained to be skilled surgeons; they are also trained in prescribing the appropriate chemotherapy and/or referral for radiation therapy when indicated. The radiation oncologist is part of the gynecologic oncology multidisciplinary team.
Multidisciplinary care
Together with gynecologic oncologists from MaineHealth Maine Medical Center, we participate in a weekly tumor board conference, with specialists from different disciplines, including surgery, radiation oncology and pathology. Specialists combine their expertise to explore all appropriate treatment options, including new therapeutic methods and to determine the most effective care plan for individual patients.
A diagnosis of cancer is a life-changing event, and our team treats each patient with respect and warmth. We will work closely with you and your primary physician to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets your unique needs and preferences.
HPV vaccination is cancer prevention
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common infection that can affect anyone. Almost 35,000 people in the US are diagnosed with a cancer caused by HPV each year. Thankfully, the HPV vaccine is estimated to prevent 90% of HPV-related cancers.
More about our services
Cancers of the female reproductive tract include:
Gynecologic oncology services include sophisticated diagnostic resources and a full range of medical, surgical and radiation therapy options, including:
- Evaluation and treatment of pre-invasive vulvar, vaginal and cervical diseases utilizing colposcopy, laser and loop electrosurgical excision procedures
- Complete surgical staging to ensure the most appropriate treatment protocol
- The expertise of a fellowship-trained gynecologic pathologist (a doctor who identifies diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope), ensuring the most accurate diagnosis and staging to optimize treatment
- The latest, most effective standard-of-care chemotherapy plans for gynecologic cancers, including intraperitoneal chemotherapy administration
- Advanced, minimally invasive surgical procedures, including robotic-assisted surgery for hysterectomies and staging.
- Comprehensive gynecologic, bowel, urologic and reconstructive procedures
- Advanced radiation therapy techniques, including Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, which can more accurately target specific areas in the body
- Brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy) through which radiation implants are temporarily placed directly into or near a tumor to kill cancer cells while minimizing damage to normal tissues
- Access to new therapies through the practice's active clinical trials program and participation in the national Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) cooperative
Tracy Watts, BSN, RN, OCN, Gynecologic Patient Navigator, 207-396-8767
Our practice is affiliated with Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) through our relationship with Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. We also participate in pharmaceutical-sponsored clinical trials that look at new therapies or combinations of therapies for the treatment of gynecologic cancers.
By actively participating in clinical trials our physicians are able to stay current with the newest treatments available, whether they involve chemotherapy or surgical interventions. Our research is reviewed and approved by the GOG as well as the MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Institutional Review Board.
Our first priority is patient safety. We have a dedicated Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator who oversees all aspects of each clinical trial, and we feel strongly that clinical trials are a necessary component of good clinical practice.
