The Women's Cancer Center

A breast cancer diagnosis is life-changing, not only for the affected individual but for their family as well. At The Women’s Cancer Center, our multidisciplinary team of breast cancer specialists designs effective personalized treatment plans for each individual based on their genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Our team provides:

• Breast radiation oncology
• Breast cancer survivorship
• Breast cancer diagnosis
• Breast surgery
• Breast reconstruction and plastic surgery
• Breast cancer prevention clinic for women with a high risk of cancer and testing for genetic cancer syndromes like BRCA1, BRCA2 and Lynch syndrome
• Breast medical oncology (chemotherapy)

Breast reconstruction following a mastectomy or lumpectomy is not for every woman, but every woman should be informed of the options to which she is legally entitled.

When facing a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, women must navigate the unknown, with little to no awareness from their traditional support system. There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to get breast reconstruction after mastectomy:

• You have options: From implants to borrowed tissue from elsewhere on the body, women want to know the fastest and healthiest options for their reconstruction.
• You can refine and revise: Breast reconstruction is a process. The journey will likely involve multiple procedures, office visits or surgeries.
• You’ll need patience for the process: There may be implications to insurance coverage based on the care plan at the point of cancer treatment. Treatment plans may influence timing for breast reconstruction.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Plastic Surgery Foundation lead the Breast Reconstruction Awareness USA Campaign, one of the few breast cancer campaigns dedicated to building awareness around breast reconstruction options. The plastic surgery team at The University of Kansas Health System actively supports these campaigns.

Our gynecologic oncologists are expertly trained specialists who are dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive care. Our multidisciplinary team collaborates to tailor a treatment plan based on your individual needs and the genetic makeup of your particular type of cancer. We provide:

• Gynecologic cancer diagnosis and management of treatment side effects
• Gynecologic surgery
• Survivorship support
• High-risk ovarian cancer prevention (genetic cancer syndromes like BRCA1 and BRCA2)
• Urogynecology and gynecology for cancer survivors

Our personalized and comprehensive care includes genetic counseling and testing for patients and their families who may be at risk for hereditary cancers. We offer genetic testing to assess risk for hereditary cancer syndromes, including breast and ovarian cancer (BRCA1 and BRCA2), Lynch syndrome and more. Our services include:

• Review up to 3 generations of your family history
• Discuss your and your children’s risk factors for cancer
• Cascade testing and genetic counseling for the entire family

The Women’s Cancer Center provides support services for patients and families diagnosed with and at risk of cancer in concert with care and treatment. Our personalized and comprehensive care involves identifying challenges and providing tools to manage them, whether they are physical, nutritional, spiritual, social or psychological. These support services include, but are not limited to:

• Fertility preservation
• Financial counseling
• Lymphedema prevention and treatment
• MonaLisa Touch® laser therapy
• Nutritional guidance
• Onco-psychology
• Onco-rehab
• Pain management
• Social work

• Diagnostic imaging (mammography, 3D mammography, MRI, ultrasound)
• Interventional radiology
• Clinical laboratory
• Outpatient pharmacy