Dr Slomovitz on the Importance of Education on Disease Management and Prevention During Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month

“Part of our job as [oncologists] is not only to come up with the best treatment options, but to help educate our patients and our colleagues about better ways to manage cancer and even better ways to prevent cancer.”

Brian Slomovitz, MD, the director of Gynecologic Oncology and co-chair of the Cancer Research Committee at Mount Sinai Medical Center, as well as a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Florida International University, emphasized the importance of education, prevention, and research in the context of gynecologic cancer awareness month.

Slomovitz began by stating that the responsibilities of an oncologist extend beyond identifying optimal treatment options; they also include educating patients and colleagues on strategies to improve outcomes and reduce incidence of disease.

Endometrial cancer remains the most common gynecologic malignancy in developed countries, with incidence rates continuing to rise in association with modifiable risk factors such as obesity, Slomovitz reported. Prevention should therefore be discussed in parallel with advances in treatment, he emphasized. Recent studies have indicated a potential link between weight management and endometrial cancer risk. Notably, emerging data on GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide show that these agents may contribute to risk reduction through their effects on weight loss, underscoring the opportunity to incorporate prevention-focused discussions into clinical practice.

Beyond prevention, Slomovitz stressed the value of awareness initiatives as platforms to disseminate updates to standards of care and ongoing research. Advances in immunotherapy and surgical techniques have expanded the therapeutic landscape, and gynecologic cancer awareness month serves as a timely reminder of these evolving options. Ensuring that educational efforts encompass the latest developments in systemic therapy, surgical innovation, and biomarker-driven treatment approaches helps ensure that patients benefit from evidence-based, up-to-date care, he stated.

Importantly, gynecologic cancer awareness month also provides an opportunity to reinforce collaboration between oncology specialists, primary care physicians, and the broader healthcare community. Raising awareness among non-specialists can facilitate earlier recognition of symptoms, prompt referral, and timely initiation of therapy.

Although research into immunotherapy combinations and novel systemic agents continues to expand treatment possibilities, equally significant progress can be achieved by addressing modifiable risk factors and engaging patients in proactive discussions on cancer prevention, Slomovitz reiterated. In this way, awareness initiatives serve as a bridge between emerging research, established standards of care, and public health measures aimed at reducing the burden of endometrial cancer, he concluded.