The mission of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF) is to ensure
public awareness of gynecologic cancer prevention, early diagnosis and
proper treatment as well as supports research and training related to
gynecologic cancers. GCF advances this mission by increasing public
and private funds that aid in the development and implementation of
programs to meet these goals.
Gynecologic Oncology is a field of medical specialization which
deals with the study and treatment of malignancies arising in the female
reproductive tract. Ovary, endometrium, cervix, vulva and vagina are
the sites of origin of the most common and serious gynecologic malignancies.
Although they are often discussed as a group, they have significant
differences in etiology, prevention, detection, treatment and likelihood
of cure.
Gynecologic Oncologists are cancer specialists whose training is first that of an obstetrician/gynecologist, after which they have had two to four years of structured training in all of the effective forms of treatment of gynecologic cancers (surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and experimental treatments) as well as the biology and pathology of gynecologic cancer. This training takes place in a limited number of medical centers. The unique aspect of this training is that it allows patients to receive the mode of therapy (i.e., surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy) or combinations of therapy most likely to be successful without fragmenting their care among many physicians.
Gynecologic oncologists practice in a variety of settings (teaching hospitals, cancer centers, regional and local hospitals).
Relationship of GCF to SGO: All members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) are members of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF). They are financially separate although they jointly fund some projects. With regards to their educational activities, the SGO works primarily with physicians and other health professionals, whereas the GCF's efforts are directed toward the public. In this way, they should be viewed as complementary organizations.
