Gynaecological cancer surgery treats cancers of the womb lining (endometrium), ovaries and fallopian tubes, cervix, vulva and vagina. It is performed by gynaecological oncologists, surgeons with additional training in cancer operations of the pelvis and abdomen. The operation differs considerably depending on the organ and stage.
For womb and early cervical cancer, surgery is frequently the main treatment. For ovarian cancer the goal is to remove all visible disease, generally combined with chemotherapy. Surgery stages the cancer accurately, and the final pathology decides whether radiotherapy or chemotherapy should follow.
What Gynaecological Cancer Surgery involves
After biopsy, MRI or CT and tumour board review, the operation is tailored. For endometrial cancer the womb, cervix, tubes and ovaries are removed, usually by keyhole surgery, and sentinel lymph nodes are identified with a fluorescent dye and removed. For early cervical cancer, a radical hysterectomy removes the womb with the tissue beside the cervix and the upper vagina, plus pelvic nodes; current evidence favours an open approach for this operation. For ovarian cancer, a long midline incision allows removal of the ovaries, womb, omentum and every visible deposit, which may include segments of bowel, the lining of the diaphragm or the spleen. Vulval cancer is treated with wide local excision and groin sentinel node biopsy.
Who is a good candidate for Gynaecological Cancer Surgery?
The plan depends on the cancer type, stage, your wish for future pregnancy and your general health.
- Endometrial cancer at almost any operable stage
- Cervical cancer at early stages, usually up to 4 cm and confined to the cervix
- Ovarian, tubal and peritoneal cancer, as primary surgery or after 3 cycles of chemotherapy
- Vulval cancer
- Women carrying BRCA or Lynch syndrome genes who are considering risk-reducing removal of tubes, ovaries or womb
- Selected young women with early disease suitable for fertility-sparing surgery
It is usually not the right choice if:
- Locally advanced cervical cancer, which is treated with chemoradiotherapy instead of surgery
- Widespread ovarian cancer where imaging or laparoscopy shows that complete removal is not achievable, until chemotherapy has been given
- Women too frail for major abdominal surgery
- Pre-cancerous cervical changes, which need only a small local excision
Technique options
- Total hysterectomy with sentinel node mapping: Keyhole or robotic; standard for endometrial cancer.
- Radical hysterectomy: For early cervical cancer, performed as an open operation in line with trial evidence.
- Cytoreductive (debulking) surgery: Extensive open surgery for ovarian cancer, aiming to leave no visible tumour.
- Fertility-sparing surgery: Cone biopsy or trachelectomy for very early cervical cancer, or removal of a single ovary for selected early ovarian tumours.
- Vulval excision with groin sentinel node biopsy: Limits the extent of groin surgery and the risk of leg swelling.
- HIPEC: Heated chemotherapy washed through the abdomen at interval debulking surgery in selected ovarian cancer; practice varies between centres.
What happens during your treatment
Keyhole hysterectomy for womb cancer takes 1.5 to 3 hours with 1 to 3 nights in hospital. Open radical hysterectomy takes 3 to 4 hours with a stay of 4 to 6 nights. Ovarian debulking can take 4 to 8 hours, often with a night or more in intensive care and 7 to 14 days in hospital. All are performed under general anaesthetic, often with an epidural after open surgery.
Preparing for your trip
Plan for 2 to 4 weeks in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.
- Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
- Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
- Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
- Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly
Recovery and results
After keyhole surgery most women resume light activity in 2 weeks and return to work in 4 to 6 weeks; after open surgery it takes 6 to 12 weeks. A urinary catheter may remain for some days after radical hysterectomy while bladder nerves recover. Removal of the ovaries before the menopause causes immediate menopausal symptoms; whether hormone replacement is safe depends on the type of cancer. Pathology takes 1 to 2 weeks. Any adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy begins about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.
- Back to everyday activity: 4 to 12 weeks
- When results show: Pathology in 1 to 2 weeks
- How long they last: Follow-up for about 5 years
Safety, risks and revision policy
The risks rise with the extent of surgery and are highest for ovarian debulking.
- Bleeding that needs transfusion
- Infection of the wound, pelvis, urine or chest
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs, for which preventive injections continue for 4 weeks
- Injury to the bladder, ureters or bowel, and occasionally the need for a temporary stoma
- Bladder emptying problems after radical hysterectomy
- Lymphoedema of the legs after lymph node removal
- Surgical menopause and loss of fertility
- Hernia, adhesions and changes to sexual function
Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.
Cost of Gynaecological Cancer Surgery in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for Gynaecological Cancer Surgery, because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- The type and extent of operation
- Keyhole, robotic or open approach
- Intensive care and length of stay
- MRI, CT or PET-CT staging, and pathology including molecular tests
- Any additional bowel surgery, HIPEC or adjuvant treatment
Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep my fertility?
Sometimes, in very early cervical cancer, some early ovarian tumours, and selected early womb cancers managed with hormones. This requires a specialist assessment before any surgery.
Why is open surgery advised for cervical cancer?
A large randomised trial showed higher recurrence after keyhole radical hysterectomy, so most guidelines now recommend the open operation.
Will I need further treatment afterwards?
It depends on the pathology. Many women with early womb cancer need nothing more; ovarian cancer nearly always involves chemotherapy.
Does it make sense to travel for this?
For a defined operation with a specialist team, possibly, provided that chemotherapy, radiotherapy and follow-up are agreed in advance with your home team.