Gynecologic Cancer
Gynecologic cancers start in a woman’s reproductive organs. These are the most common gynecologic cancers.
Cervical cancer begins in the cervix. Almost all cervical cancers are caused by human papillomavirus, or HPV, which is sexually transmitted.
Symptoms
- Abnormal bleeding
- Bleeding between regular menstrual periods, after sexual intercourse, while douching or during a pelvic exam
- Pain during urination
- Pelvic pain
- Unusually heavy discharge
Many of these symptoms are associated with more common conditions. Often, women ignore them, believing they’re caused by premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or ovulation. For this reason, cervical cancer often goes undetected until it is in the advanced stages. Regular screening helps with early detection.
Risk Factors
- Giving birth to three or more children
- Having many sexual partners
- Having sex at an early age
- Smoking
- Taking birth control pills for five or more years
- A weakened immune system
Ovarian cancer develops when abnormal cells grow in or near the ovaries.
Symptoms
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
- Urinary symptoms such as an urgent or frequent feeling of needing to go
While these symptoms are typically associated with more common conditions, if they occur frequently and last for more than a few weeks, make an appointment with your primary care provider or gynecologist, who may recommend testing.
Risk Factors
- Aging
- Early menstruation (before age 12)
- Family or personal history of ovarian and breast cancer
- Hormone replacement therapies (HRT)
- Later menopause
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Genetic testing can help determine risk. If genetic testing reveals a mutation in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, preventive surgery to remove the ovaries may be an option. If you are at a high risk for developing ovarian cancer, talk with your doctor about a CA-125 test, which can detect early signs.
Uterine, or endometrial, cancer is caused by the growth of abnormal cells in the lining of the uterus. It typically occurs in women over 50 who have a hormone imbalance. This imbalance causes the lining of the uterus to thicken, which may cause cancer cells to grow. When uterine cancer is found in its earliest stage, it is usually curable.
Symptoms
- Bleeding or vaginal discharge not related to your period (menstruation)
- Pain during sex
- Pelvic pain
Risk Factors
- Family history of uterine, colon or ovarian cancer
- Difficulty getting pregnant, or had fewer than five periods in a year before starting menopause
- Obesity
- Older than 50
- Take only estrogen for hormone replacement during menopause
- Take tamoxifen for breast cancer
Vaginal cancer is rare and develops when cancer cells form in the vagina.
Symptoms
- Bleeding or discharge not related to menstrual periods
- Constipation
- A lump in the vagina
- Pain during sex, in the pelvic area or when urinating
Risk Factors
- Older than 60
- Exposure to DES, a medicine to prevent miscarriage, while in your mother's womb; DES was given to some pregnant women in the 1950s
- Had a hysterectomy for health problems affecting the uterus
- History of abnormal cells in the cervix or cervical cancer
- History of abnormal cells in the uterus or uterine cancer
- Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection
Vulvar cancer is a rare, slow-growing cancer that develops in the tissues of the vulva.
Symptoms
- Bleeding not related to menstrual periods
- Color changes in the vulvar skin or growths that look like warts or ulcers
- Itching in the vulvar area that does not go away
- A lump or growth on the vulva
- Tenderness in the vulvar area
Risk Factors
- Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection
- Having many sexual partners
- Having sex at an early age
- History of abnormal Pap smears
- Having vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN)
- History of genital warts