frequently asked questions

what is gynecologic cancer?
am i at risk?
how do i reduce my risk?
can gynecologic cancers be prevented?
how are gynecologic cancers treated?
what are the types of gynecologic cancer?

what is gynecologic cancer?
Gynecologic cancer is any cancer that starts in a woman's reproductive organs within a woman's pelvis, which is the area below the stomach and in between the hip bones. Gynecological cancers include cancers of the cervix, ovaries, uterus, vagina, vulva, and fallopian tubes.

am I at risk?
All women should pay attention to their body, their family history and any external signs that may indicate a need to call your doctor. However, there are some groups that are at a higher risk for gynecological cancer:

  1. Women over the age of 50. The most significant factor for developing ovarian cancer is age. Less than 15% of ovarian cancers are diagnosed in women under age 50. The older a woman is, the higher her chances are of developing it. Additionally, the majority of ovarian cancers are diagnosed in women after they have gone through menopause, in their late fifties and sixties.
  2. Women with a family history of gynecological cancer. If your mother, sister, or daughters have had gynecological cancer, then you have an increased risk for development of the disease.
  3. Those with oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, which promote the growth of cancer. You can acquire abnormal function of these genes during life (e.g., through smoking, aging, environmental influences) or you can inherit gene mutations from your parents or grandparents.
  4. Women with a high-risk type of the sexually transmitted Human Papilloma Virus, which puts you at risk for developing cervical cancer.

how do i reduce my risk?
The most important thing a woman can do to reduce her risk is get regular gynecological screenings and tests. There is no substitute for early detection. An annual pelvic exam, which should include the Pap test, bimanual exam, and recto-vaginal exam, has the potential to detect gynecological cancer before it causes symptoms. Women at high risk for certain cancers may be advised to have more rigorous screening procedures, such as a transvaginal ultrasound test or CA 125 blood test.

Some gynecologic cancers are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), a very common sexually transmitted infection. There is a vaccine that protects against the HPV types that most often cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. It is currently recommended for young girls between the ages of 11-12, but it can be given to girls beginning at age 9. Women between the ages of 13–26 who did not get any or all of the shots when they were younger are also candidates. For the vaccine to be most effective, girls should ideally get all three doses of this vaccine before their first sexual contact.

can gynecologic cancers be prevented?
Lifestyle choices like diet, exercise and smoking can all play a significant role in raising or lowering your risk of developing cancer. And knowing your family history and risk of gynecological cancer can increase your chances of early detection and lead to more successful treatment. If you are predisposed to gynecological cancers it is especially important to recognize warning signs, and learn if there are things you can do to reduce your risk.

If you believe that you are at increased risk for gynecologic cancer, you should talk to your doctor about what you might do to lower your risk and whether there are tests that you should have.

how are gynecologic cancers treated?
A diagnosis of gynecological cancer needs an experienced specialist. Studies have shown that cure rates are highest when gynecological cancers are treated by a gynecological oncologist. Gynecologic oncologists are cancer specialists, board certified physicians who have undergone three to four years of highly-specialized education in treating gynecologic cancers from an American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology approved program. Gynecologic oncologists understand the impact of cancer on all aspects of women’s lives, including future childbearing, sexuality, physical and emotional well-being, and the impact cancer can have on the patient’s whole family. Likewise, a surgeon who treats cervical cancers on a regular basis often is able to remove the entire tumor with one surgery, making repeated procedures unnecessary.

There are several methods a gynecologic oncologist may use in treating gynecologic cancer including one or more of the following options: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Ultimately, treatment depends on the type of cancer and how far it has spread. Patients with cancer often get more than one kind of treatment. The Bon Secours Gynecologic Oncology Program is also actively involved in a variety of gynecological oncology clinical trials.

types of gynecologic cancers

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is caused by abnormal cellular changes in the cervix and is the only gynecologic cancer that can be prevented by regular cervical cancer screening. Symptoms include bleeding after intercourse, excessive discharge and abnormal bleeding between periods.

Failure to receive regular examinations often eliminates the opportunity for early diagnosis through cervical cancer screening. Persistent high risk HPV infection has been shown to be the cause of virtually all cervical cancers, though other risk factors include smoking, HIV infection, and early age of first intercourse.

Fallopian Tube Cancer

Cancer will rarely develop in the fallopian tubes. The most common symptoms are vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, and/or pelvic pain. (As a general rule, any vaginal bleeding in a postmenopausal women should be quickly and carefully evaluated.)

As for risk factors, there has been some association of this cancer with chronic infection of the fallopian tubes (due to untreated sexually transmitted diseases, for example). Additionally, there are several genetic mutations that have been reported in a number of women with primary fallopian tube cancer.

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer, the most serious of the gynecologic malignancies, usually arises on the surface of the ovary.

Women should watch for symptoms that include shanges or discomforts, such as a pressure or fullness in the pelvis, abdominal bleeding, or changes in bowel and bladder patterns, which are constant and progressive.

The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age, especially around the time of menopause. A family history of ovarian cancer is one of the most important risk factors. Infertility and not bearing children are also risk factors. Pregnancy can decrease the risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Uterine Cancer

Most uterine cancers begin in the lining of the uterus (endometrium) after menopause, when a woman’s menstrual cycle ends and the endometrium flattens out. Uterine cancer occurs when cells in the endometrium lining grow out of control and invade the muscle of the uterus. Warning signs include any bleeding after menopause, or irregular vaginal bleeding before menopause.

Risk factors include obesity, hypertension, diabetes, inappropriate estrogen use, tamoxifen use and late menopause. Women who have not been pregnant also have a slightly higher risk for uterine cancer.

Vaginal Cancer

Vaginal cancer is very rare. It is usually diagnosed in elderly women with abnormal bleeding and treated with radiation. Indications of vagional cancer include: painless vaginal bleeding, unrelated to menstrual periods, bleeding after intercourse, vaginal discharge, and bowel symptoms, such as blood in the stool, painful bowel movements or constipation, due to tumor invasion into the rectum. Vaginal cancers can also spread locally to the bladder causing painful or difficult urination.

Vaginal cancer is associated with increasing age and certain high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). In addition, having a diagnosis of cervical cancer is a big risk factor for developing vaginal cancer. Other risk factors for developing vaginal cancer include include: smoking, young age at first intercourse, and a large number of lifetime sexual partners.

Vulvar Cancer

Vulvar cancer appears as lesions on the surface of the vulva or labia. This is a very curable type of cancer, usually with surgical removal of the vulvar lesions and the groin lymph nodes. One of the symptoms is itching in the vulvar area.

Risk factors include diabetes, advanced stage (age 70 and older) and chronic vulvar irritation. Women with HPV are also at risk.

For more information on gynecological cancers visit:

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