Where Care Goes Beyond Medicine

How MemorialCare Cancer Institute supports cancer care beyond the physical

Cancer care should no longer be measured by treatment alone. For women facing gynecologic cancers, the experience can affect nearly every part of life — physical health, fertility, recovery, family, work, relationships and finding emotional balance. At MemorialCare Cancer Institute, care is designed around that reality, bringing together advanced subspecialized medicine, clinical research and supportive care that helps women feel guided, informed and cared for throughout the cancer journey.

That balance of academic-level expertise and whole-person support is what helps MemorialCare Cancer Institute stand apart. Patients are connected to a specialized gynecologic oncology team, access to clinical studies when appropriate, and programs that support the body, mind and spirit. Women also have access to a nurse navigator, psychosocial support, nutrition guidance, rehabilitation, yoga, onco-ballet, art therapy, and appearance-related support. Together, these resources give patients a chance to feel better holistically, which in terms prepares them to face cancer physically.

That same whole-person approach is paired with the clinical depth needed to treat complex gynecologic cancers. MemorialCare Cancer Institute brings together gynecologic oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, oncology nurses, social workers, genetic counselors, dietitians through a multidisciplinary tumor board review. There, as a collective, they review complex cases and evaluate each person’s unique diagnosis, bringing together multiple perspectives, helping patients receive national-level care but from the comfort of their own community.

For patients with complex gynecologic cancers, that level of collaboration can open the door to more tailored options. Depending on the diagnosis, MemorialCare Cancer Institute can offer minimally invasive and robotic-assisted approaches designed to support recovery, fertility-sparing surgery when appropriate, targeted radiation treatments like brachytherapy, hyperthermia, genetic counseling and access to clinical studies.

“For some women, a clinical trial may offer access to a promising therapy that is not otherwise widely available,” says Kiran Clair, M.D., medical director, gynecologic oncologist, MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute, Long Beach Medical Center. “At MemorialCare Cancer Institute, eligible patients may have access to studies for ovarian, cervical and uterine cancers. That means women can explore promising treatment options and research-based care while remaining close to their family, support system and local care team.”

Across MemorialCare Cancer Institute, women have access to academic-level cancer care and compassionate support close to home. That includes subspecialized gynecologic oncology expertise, coordinated treatment planning and da Vinci robotic-assisted technology in Long Beach, Fountain Valley and Laguna Hills. For many patients, this means advanced minimally invasive surgical options delivered by local teams who understand the full physical and emotional impact of cancer care.

“Robotic-assisted surgery has transformed how we care for many women with gynecologic cancers,” says Priyal Dholakiya, M.D., medical director, gynecologic oncology, Orange Coast Medical Center and Saddleback Medical Center. “Using da Vinci technology, we can perform complex procedures through small incisions with enhanced visualization, precision and control, which can help reduce pain, shorten hospital stays and support a faster return to daily life.”

At MemorialCare Cancer Institute, advanced cancer care is strengthened by collaboration, expertise and the heart of a community health system. By treating the whole person, MemorialCare helps women feel supported through survivorship.

Medically Reviewed by:

Priyal Dholakiya, M.D., medical director, gynecologic oncology, Orange Coast Medical Center and Saddleback Medical Center

Kiran Clair, M.D., medical director, gynecologic oncologist, MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute, Long Beach Medical Center

About the Author

Priyal P. Dholakiya, M.D., is the Medical Director of Gynecologic Oncology for the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center and Saddleback Medical Center. A board-certified gynecologic oncologist, she specializes in the surgical and medical treatment of gynecologic cancers and is dedicated to helping women make informed decisions about their care through compassionate, patient-centered treatment.