Gynaecological Oncology Unit

Welcome to the website of the Gynaecological Oncology Unit (GOU) of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Pretoria. As is evident from the postings on this webpage, the GOU is active in clinical service delivery, research and the training of registrars and fellows.

 

The unit renders a comprehensive multi-disciplinary gynaecological oncology service to residents in Gauteng and its extensive tertiary referral area. Certain quaternary services are offered to an even larger referral area, including cancer genetic counselling and testing as well as ultra-radical surgery. Staging, evaluation and surgical treatment of early stage cervical cancer (FIGO stage I – IIA), all stages of endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer and vulva cancer forms the bulk of the clinical work performed in the unit. Laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer and laparoscopic surgery for endometrial cancer including nodal dissection is also offered to selected patients.

 

The multi-disciplinary service is rendered in co-operation with medical and radiation oncology, anatomical pathology, radiology and nuclear medicine. Selected cases are seen and discussed at the weekly multi-disciplinary oncology clinic.

Research is a priority in the unit with several research projects currently undertaken by students, fellows and consultants as principal investigators. The research programme is extensive and growing and includes collaboration on national and international levels. Major research focus areas include cervical cancer epidemiology, human papilloma virus oncogenesis, improvement of primary and secondary prevention, diagnosis and management of inherited cancer risk as well as improvements in clinical management strategies of invasive gynaecological cancer.

 

The GOU has an active training and academic programme and there are currently three clinical fellows and one research fellow undergoing fellowship training. Surgical training of fellows includes theatre lists in Kalafong and Steve Biko hospitals and workshops in the management of surgical complications done on live animal tissue. Since the inception of the Certificate examination in the subspecialty of Gynaecological Oncology, the Unit was responsible for the first successful candidate and has since trained a number of subspecialists, including one practising in Kenia. In addition to fellowship training, the Unit provides registrar training and is involved in undergraduate and outreach lectures to general practitioners.

Academic scholarship of the subspecialists and fellows in the Unit attracts a lot of attention with all members actively involved on a national level and as members of the international fraternity and societies. Consultants from the GOU are actively involved in syllabus, assessment and examination processes for Part I, Part II and subspecialty examinations of the College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, CMSA. In addition, the Southern African Journal of Gynaecologic Oncology is edited by Greta Dreyer and the unit is represented by several other members on editorial boards and as peer reviewers for this and other academic journals.

Please feel free to contact the departmental administrator for further enquiries. The unit invites interested colleagues to visit us with prior arrangement and will also welcome attendance of our academic and training activities. We have capacity to accommodate an approved local or international fellow who is self-funded for post-graduate training. Interested gynaecologists can contact the unit and must send an abridged curriculum vitae.

 

RESEARCH COLLABORATORS

Institutional

 

• Medical Virology
• Anatomical Pathology
• Bio Statistics
• Radiation Oncology
• Medical Oncology
• Cancer Genetics

 

National

• Lancet Laboratories
• University of Stellenbosch
• Walter Sisulu University
• Witbank Hospital

 

InternationaI

• Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• Norchip, Oslo
• Radboud University, Neijmegen

 

Outreach Activities

Dora Nginza, Port Elizabeth – Gynaecology Surgery every 3^rd month

J C Coetzee Outreach lectures 3X per year

Screening project – PHC Eastern Cape

Vaccine Project – Primary Schools Gauteng

 

ACTIVITIES

 

Oncology Output Clinics	Monday:         Kalafong Tuesday:        Sbah
Colposcopy And Laser Clinic	Monday:         Kalafong Tuesday:        Sbah
Theatre Lists	Monday:          Sbah Wednesday:   Sbah
Multidisciplinary Oncology Clinic	Tuesday:         Kalafong   12:00
Monthly Academic Meetings	Thursdays:    12:30
Monthly Discussions	Fellows And Registrars  Thursdays 12:30
Colposcopy + Lletz Workshops:	Twice Yearly
Live Animal Tussue Open Surgery Workshop For Fellows	Bi-Annually Second Semester
Academic Pre-Operative Ward Rounds	Weekly
Familial Cancer Clinic	Tuesdays

 

  

Gynaecologic Oncology Staff List

Consultants:

Prof Greta Dreyer                                Head of Unit

Dr Arrie Mouton                                    Head:  Steve Biko Academic Hospital

Prof Leon Snyman                              Head:  Kalafong Tertiary Hospital

Prof B G Lindeque                              Head:  Dept O&G

Dr Ray Makwela                                  Consultant

 

Gynaecologic Oncology Fellows:

Dr Edwin Mnisi                                    Clinical Fellow

Dr Nthlarhi Mathonsi                          Clinical Fellow

Dr Mfundo Mabenge                           Clinical Fellow

Dr MC van Aardt                                   Research Fellow

 

Administrative Staff:

Ms Rika Byleveldt                               Administrative Head

Ms Cathy Visser                                  Research Administrator

 

Ms Isabelle van der Merwe               Data Administrator