Logan Health Women’s Care is now offering gynecologic oncology services in the Flathead Valley. 

Three experts on a Billings Clinic–Logan Health outreach team are providing the new service.  

“In spite of not having gynecologic oncologists here, there’s been really expert OB-GYN care in this community for years and we’re happy to join our colleagues to provide this subspeciality service,” said Dr. Evelyn Fleming, one of the gynecologic oncologists spearheading the program.  

With a combined 40 years in women’s health experience, Fleming, along with Dr. Dandi Huang and Dr. Bradford Whitcomb, will use their subspeciality to provide women with gynecologic cancer treatment.  

The services, which began on Jan. 13 with the arrival of Fleming, include surgeries and treatment plans for diseases like cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, vaginal cancer and vulvar cancer.  

“I’ve had to send a lot of people to Spokane, Billings, even Salt Lake City [for gynecologic cancer treatment],” said Dr. Jenna Huff, an OB-GYN at Logan Health. “To not be at home, in your own bed, around your own friends and family just makes things more difficult.”   

Huff looks forward to offering these services in Kalispell, specifically lauding their expertise as they are some of the best surgeons in their field. 

“This means we can take care of women better by giving them the best treatment, here,” Huff said.  

Fleming spent most of her career thus far at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, where she worked on medical trials and instructed fellows during her time. She hopes to one day expand the program at Logan by offering a few medical trials.  

Gynecologic cancers make up 11% of all new cancer diagnoses in women, according to Logan Health. In 2023, there were an estimated 114,810 cases of the five different gynecologic cancers diagnosed in women in the U.S, according to the Prevent Cancer Foundation 

In 2019, the average number of doctors for every 100,000 female patients across the nation was only 121.32, according to a study by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.  

Having experts locally to service local women is a gift, Huff said.  

The field of gynecological oncology follows a patient through diagnosis, surgical management, chemotherapeutic management, and even end of life care, Fleming said.  

“It’s a whole spectrum of care for a limited number of diseases. And I love that aspect of the continuity of care,” she said.  

The oncology team will rotate between Billings Clinic-Logan Health facilities across the state.  

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com.