If surgery is part of your treatment plan, it's common to have a lot of questions about what the procedure involves, what recovery looks like, and what life will feel like on the other side. At Whole Health Oncology, we believe those questions deserve real, honest answers, and that the surgical experience itself should be as gentle and as minimally disruptive as possible.
Gynecologic oncology surgery covers a broad range of procedures designed to treat gynecologic cancers and complex benign conditions, from hysterectomy to vulvectomy to lymph node mapping and beyond. Wherever it's clinically appropriate, our team uses minimally invasive gynecologic surgery techniques, including robotic and laparoscopic approaches, that reduce recovery time, minimize scarring, and help patients get back to their lives sooner.
Dr. Shazia Bashir is a highly experienced gynecologic cancer surgeon with subspecialty training in both oncologic and complex benign surgical care. She completed her residency at Johns Hopkins University and her fellowship training at Columbia University and Cornell University, and she brings that level of expertise to every procedure she performs, from minimally invasive surgery (robotic and laparoscopic) and radical debulking surgery to fertility-sparing and complex pelvic surgery. She also personally tailors each patient's chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation recommendations, all based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines.
When you're ready to talk through your surgical options, we're here. Request an appointment today.
At Whole Health Oncology, gynecologic cancer surgery is approached with the same whole-patient philosophy that guides everything we do. Every procedure is planned carefully, performed with precision, and followed by a recovery plan that supports your well-being far beyond the operating room. Here's an overview of the surgeries we perform:
Hysterectomy surgery, one of the most common procedures in gynecologic oncology, is part of the surgical staging for uterine (endometrial), cervical, and ovarian cancers. Dr. Bashir performs the majority of hysterectomies using robotic techniques, which offer patients decreased pain, infection, blood loss, and recovery time compared to traditional open surgery. When the size of the uterus or a pelvic mass requires a different approach, open surgery may be recommended. If so, Dr. Bashir will always explain the reasons behind the decision clearly.
For patients with vulvar or vaginal cancers, surgery may involve a simple or radical vulvectomy (the surgical removal of part or all of the vulva) or vaginectomy (the removal of part of the vagina). For precancerous lesions, ultrasonic ablation of the vulva and vagina is also available and is preferred over CO2 laser ablation, since it allows tissue to be collected and sent to pathology for assessment. These procedures require a high level of surgical precision and care, and Dr. Bashir's subspecialty training makes her exceptionally well-equipped to perform them. She'll walk you through exactly what the procedure involves and what recovery looks like before any decisions are made.
Sentinel lymph node mapping is a technique used to identify and evaluate the lymph nodes most likely to be affected by cancer, helping guide decisions about how extensively the lymph nodes need to be assessed or removed. For endometrial and cervical cancer, this involves sentinel pelvic and paraaortic lymph node mapping and dissection. For vulvar cancer, this involves sentinel inguinal lymph node mapping. This approach can reduce the risk of complications compared to more extensive lymph node removal while still providing your care team with the information they need. Depending on your situation, either sentinel or complete lymph node mapping may be recommended.
Ovarian cancer debulking surgery is a procedure aimed at removing as much of the tumor as possible when ovarian cancer has spread beyond the ovary. The goal is to reduce the amount of cancer remaining in the body, which helps make additional treatments like chemotherapy more effective. Also called cytoreductive surgery, debulking can range from removing visible tumors from nearby tissues and organs to more extensive procedures, depending on how far the cancer has spread. Dr. Bashir will walk you through exactly what the surgery would involve in your case and what to expect during recovery.
For patients who have been diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer and wish to preserve their ability to have children, fertility-sparing surgery may be an option depending on the type, stage, and characteristics of the cancer. Rather than removing the uterus and both ovaries, fertility-sparing approaches aim to treat the cancer while leaving the reproductive organs intact wherever it's safe to do so. Dr. Bashir will be honest with you about whether this option is appropriate for your specific situation and what the ongoing monitoring would involve.
At Whole Health Oncology, wellness support is not an add-on. Our THRIVE Program surrounds your clinical care with movement, breathwork, nutrition guidance, community, and one-on-one support from diagnosis through survivorship.
Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery refers to surgical techniques, primarily robotic and laparoscopic approaches, that use small incisions rather than a large open cut. The benefits include:
When just removal of fallopian tubes and ovary is needed, Dr. Bashir thoughtfully offers a laparoscopic approach for smaller incisions that are hidden under the bikini line and in the umbilical fold. These are often risk-reducing surgeries for breast cancer patients or for patients with genetic syndromes and mutations of the following genes:
Not every procedure can be performed minimally invasively, but Dr. Bashir uses these techniques whenever they're clinically appropriate and in the best interest of the patient.
Both robotic gynecologic surgery and laparoscopic surgery are minimally invasive approaches that use small incisions rather than a large open cut. The main difference is that robotic surgery gives the surgeon a more precise, three-dimensional view and a greater range of instrument motion, which can be especially valuable in complex gynecologic cases. Your provider will recommend the approach that's best suited to your specific procedure and anatomy.
It depends on your diagnosis, the type of surgery performed, and what the pathology findings show afterward. Some patients move directly into a surveillance and monitoring phase, while others may need additional treatment such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation.
For every cancer case, your situation is reviewed at our biweekly Tumor Board Conference, where a multidisciplinary team weighs in to help determine the best path forward after surgery.
Scheduling with Whole Health Oncology is easy. Either ask your gynecologist or primary care physician to fax us a referral to (904) 925-3351, give us a call at (904) 373-1177, or request an appointment online. Our patient coordinators will reach out to walk you through the next steps. We’re located in St. Augustine, Florida, and see patients from across Northeast Florida, including Palm Coast and the greater Jacksonville area. We look forward to welcoming you!