Ovarian cancer strikes about one in 70 women and accounts for about 50% of the deaths caused by gynecological cancers. About half of those who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 60 years or older. “Ovarian cancer used to be known as a silent killer,” says John McBroom, M.D., gynecologic oncologist. “But more recently, we’ve found that about 90% of women have subtle symptoms. The problem is they are difficult to distinguish between an upset stomach or indigestion.”

Dr. McBroom says ovarian cancer is a “lethal” cancer. “Part of the lethality is that about 75% of women are diagnosed in stage 3 or stage 4,” he says. “The ability to cure those patients in late stages is much different than those who are diagnosed in stage 1."

Robotic surgery has improved the treatment of ovarian cancer. Dr. McBroom says the biggest benefit of robotics is that the instruments are like hands that can twist and turn inside the body. “They’re precise, where you could actually peel a grape,” he says. Another benefit is 3-D vision, which gives the surgeon a magnified view with depth perception.

In addition, Dr. McBroom was the first in Georgia to perform laparoscopic HIPEC therapy for ovarian cancer. HIPEC stands for heat intraperitoneal chemo infusion. “In HIPEC, chemotherapy is placed inside the abdominal cavity during surgery, then heated and perfused throughout the abdominal cavity for a period of time,” he says. For more information, visit Piedmont Robotic Surgery.

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