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Women’s health is a rapidly evolving domain that demands increasing attention, not only due to its inherent complexity and breadth but also because of its strategic alignment with one of the most vital service lines in health care: oncology. As cancer becomes more prevalent, particularly among women under age 50, health care systems are recognizing the need to develop integrated, patient-centered programs that address the full continuum of care from prevention to survivorship. This article explores the intersection between women’s health and oncology, identifying the current landscape, unique challenges, emerging trends, and strategic considerations required to build resilient and effective programs.
Epidemiological Trends and the Growing Burden of Disease
"According to data from the American Cancer Society and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, breast and gynecologic cancers combined represent approximately 22% of all cancer diagnoses in the US (Figure 1).1,2 From 2023 to 2024, diagnoses for these cancers increased by over 4%, double the growth rate for all cancers combined."
One in 3 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer in her lifetime.3 The accelerating incidence, particularly among young and middle-aged women, is straining existing systems that are often ill-equipped to provide comprehensive, long-term care. While mortality rates have declined due to advances in detection and treatment, the increasing prevalence of cancer diagnoses in women under 50 high-lights a growing crisis that must be addressed through targeted intervention and resource allocation.
Utilization and Financial Impact: A Paradox of Growth and Underuse
Although the number of new cancer cases is increasing, utilization of key cancer treatments is paradoxically declining. This trend is attributed to the evolution of treatment protocols (eg, genomic profiling and risk stratification studies like the TAILORx clinical trial, NCT00310180), that have reduced the need for aggressive therapies in certain subpopulations.
From a financial standpoint, oncology remains one of the most profitable service lines for many health care systems. In some institutions, cancer care contributes over 50% of the total profit margin. However, not all tumor programs are of equal profitability or strategic value. Breast and gynecological cancers offer both clinical significance and financial opportunity, but also require thoughtful programmatic design to maximize returns while delivering high-quality care.
National Perspective: The Changing Landscape of Women’s Health
Women’s health encompasses a broad spectrum of services that span across a woman’s life cycle, including menstrual management, reproductive endocrinology, obstetrics, urogynecology, menopausal care, and beyond. Innovations in this field are accelerating, driven by a demand for personalized, whole-person care models. However, the sector is fraught with reimbursement challenges, especially given Medicaid’s leading role in obstetric coverage, which requires innovators to navigate 50 different state-based platforms. Additionally, many new care models remain limited to commercially insured or self-pay populations, which limits accessibility for a large swath of patients.
The sheer variety of solutions available to meet similar health needs has further complicated the landscape. Many offerings lack the historical performance data necessary to assess long-term viability, applicability, and sustainability. In this fragmented environment, the need for coordinated, longitudinal care is becoming increasingly clear, particularly as women traverse different stages of their health journey—from adolescence through reproductive years and into menopause and beyond.
The Women’s Health Lifecycle: A Continuum of Care
The continuum of women’s health care must address a wide range of services that intersect at key life stages. The women’s health lifecycle begins long before a cancer diagnosis (Figure 2). For many women, the first point of contact with the health care system is during pregnancy. But this “entry point” is just 1 chapter in a much longer story. From adolescence to menopause and beyond, women face a series of interconnected health events—each of which presents an opportunity for early detection, prevention, and education. This lifecycle-based approach reframes women’s health as a strategic front door to oncology. It encourages health care systems to think upstream, by investing in community outreach, wellness, and preventive care, and downstream, by integrating survivorship, mental health, and chronic disease management into long-term care models.
To get started, health care systems should map out these lifecycle touchpoints to identify where women are already engaging with the health system—OB/GYN visits, mammography, fertility care, menopause clinics—and assess how oncology services can be integrated or introduced at each stage. Another key requirement is a shift from episodic care to longitudinal models. A comprehensive model incorporates every point of connection with the health care system, from wellness and screening to specialty diagnostics and longevity. This holistic approach requires seamless integration with primary care, as well as robust infrastructure around care coordination, clinical best practices, social and financial counseling, and patient support services. Read on for a case study of how Northwell Health developed a women’s health hub that includes breast centers, gynecologic oncology, imaging, and survivorship services—under one roof.
Defining Women’s Oncology: A Critical but Underdeveloped Domain
Women’s oncology represents a distinct yet underdefined area within most health care systems. At its core, this service line comprises cancers that predominantly affect women—breast and gynecologic cancers—but the scope can vary significantly across organizations. As the burden of these diseases grows, the imperative for developing dedicated women’s oncology programs becomes increasingly urgent. Several features distinguish women’s oncology from general oncology:
Given these characteristics, health care systems must move beyond traditional silos and develop comprehensive, patient-centered women’s oncology programs tailored to the clinical and psychosocial complexities of this population.
Strategic Alignment: Bridging Women’s Health and Oncology
The intersection of women’s health and oncology is rich with potential for innovation and differentiation. To optimize, programs must answer key questions to assess the opportunity:
Strategic Levers for Integration and Impact
A combined approach between women’s health and oncology offers several key advantages—both strategic and operational. Health care systems must activate a set of strategic levers that enhance care delivery, operational efficiency, and long-term differentiation. These levers, when implemented in tandem, can transform fragmented services into a cohesive, patient-centered model. Here’s how:
Building Blocks for Comprehensive Programs
A successful women’s oncology program requires a multidimensional investment strategy built around the following pillars:
Ultimately, these elements must coalesce into a seamless continuum that supports patients from prevention through diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
Concluding Thoughts
The convergence of women’s health and oncology represents a critical frontier for health care system transformation. By developing cohesive women’s oncology programs, institutions can address existing service gaps, improve health outcomes, differentiate in crowded markets, and strengthen their financial position. The future of women’s health lies in coordinated, multidisciplinary care models that recognize the unique needs of female patients across the lifespan—and nowhere is this more urgent or promising than in oncology.
Tessa Kerby, MBA, MPH, is a principal, and Matt Cox, MPH, is a partner at Whitecap Health Advisors, LLC.
References
At the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting, the Louisiana Oncology Society received the ASCO Jeffrey C Ward Affiliate Advocacy Award for advancing critical advocacy priorities that have translated into meaningful legislative victories. The Iowa Oncology Society and Washington State Medical Oncology Society were also recognized for their advocacy efforts in 2025 at the meeting, receiving second place awards.
