Gynecologic Oncology Resource Line

Phone: 416 946 2220

Clinical Nurse Specialist:

Jodi-Ann Manhertz is a certified Oncology nurse. She achieved her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Nursing degrees at Ryerson University. Jodi-Ann started her nursing career with Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM) in 2011 as part of the Nursing Resource Team and then transitioned to staff nurse on the Medical and Radiation Inpatient unit in 2014. In 2016, as co-principal investigator, she contributed to research focused on discharge education post Brachytherapy treatment for women with Gynecologic cancers. She was the successful recipient of the Frank Gerstein Charitable Foundation Advanced Education Award for Palliative Care Nursing in 2018.

Jodi-Ann can be reached at 416.340.4800 x3674

COVID-19 Vaccination Information:

BEFORE SURGERY:

• If you have a vaccine scheduled for less than 7 days before your surgery, you may want to reschedule your vaccine.
• Up to 15 people out of 100 may get a fever after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. If you have a fever on the day of your surgery, your surgery may need to be rescheduled.

AFTER SURGERY:

• Wait at least 1 week after your surgery before receiving a vaccine. Having a fever can be a sign of infection after surgery.
• By waiting 1 week after surgery, your health care will be able to determine if the fever is related to an infection and not a vaccine side effect.

Click here for more information

General information

• Cancer Screening: talk to your doctor
• Understanding My CA 125 Test Results
• Vulvar Cancer: Know What to Expect
• Understanding and Managing Lynch Syndrome
• Genetic Testing
  
  • Understand Hereditary Cancer
  • Understand Genetic Testing
  • Possible Results of Genetic Testing

Surgery

• Preparing for Your Surgery: Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy
  
  • Watch Videos:
    
    • Before surgery
    • How to prepare for surgery
    • Day of surgery
    • After surgery
• Preparing for Your Surgery: Radical Abdominal Hysterectomy or Total Abdominal Hysterectomy
• Perioperative Blood Conservation Program
• Surgery at TGH and Princess Margaret: what you need to know before your surgery
• Cleaning Your Skin Before Your Surgery at UHN
  
  • 中文 (Chinese)
• Day Surgery at Toronto General Hospital
• Gynecologic Oncology/Urology Inpatient Unit & Consolidated Surgical Short Stay Unit
• Going Home After a Hysterectomy: discharge instructions
• Going Home After Your Vulvar Surgery
• Learn About Incisional (Ventral) Hernias
• Bowel resection surgery
  
  • watch a video

Radiation

• What to expect with radiation therapy
• Preparing for Your CT Planning Scan and Radiation Treatments: receiving radiation to pelvis for gyne cancer
• What to Expect When Getting High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy to the Pelvis Using an Intravaginal Applicator
• What to Expect When Getting High-Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy to Treat Gynecological Cancer
• What to Expect When Getting Radiation Therapy to the Abdomen and Pelvis
• Your Guide to Radiation Treatment and Cisplatin Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy

• Your Guide to Radiation Treatment and Cisplatin Chemotherapy
• Your Intraperitoneal (IP) Cisplatin and Paclitaxel Chemotherapy Schedule
• Your Intravenous (IV) Carboplatin and Paclitaxel Chemotherapy Schedule

Managing Side Effects

Lymphedema:

• How to Do Self Lymphatic Massage on Your Lower Body
• How to Self-bandage Your Leg(s) and Feet to Reduce Lymphedema (Swelling)
• Know How to Care Your Bandages: upper and lower body lymphedema

Bowel Function:

• Know About a Low Fibre Diet for Partial Bowel Obstruction
• Know How to Maintain Good Bowel Function
• Bowel Obstruction Information

Sexual & Pelvic Floor Health:

• Know How to Use Vaginal Moisturizers and Lubricants
• Manage Sex and Intimacy after Gynecologic Cancer Treatment
• Pelvic Floor Kegel Exercises for Women

Additional Resources:

Canada:

• Ovarian Cancer Canada
• The Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada
• BC Cancer Agency
• Canadian Cancer Society
• Cancer Care Ontario
• Cancer Drug Formulary, Cancer Care Ontario

USA:

• American Cancer Society
• American College of Physicians: Home Care Guide for Advanced Cancer
• American Institute for Cancer Research Online
• Cancer Care
• Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients
• Endometrial Cancer, American Cancer Society
• Gynecologic Cancers, National Cancer Institute
• Look Good Feel Better
• National Cancer Institute
• National Cervical Cancer Coalition
• Oncolink
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)

International:

• Society of Gynecologic Oncology
• European Society of Gynaecological Oncology
• International Gynecologic Cancer Society