Gynaecologic Cancers
There are five main types of cancer that affect a woman’s reproductive organs: Cervical, ovarian, endometrial, vaginal and vulvar. Together, these cancers are referred to as gynaecologic cancers. Each gynaecologic cancer is unique, with different signs and symptoms, different risk factors and different prevention strategies.
With the availability of Pap smears that screen for precancerous and cancerous changes of the cervix, cervical cancer is one of the world’s deadliest but most easily preventable forms of cancer.
Risk factors include:
- HPV (human papilloma virus)
- Having sex at an early age
- Multiple sexual partners
- Sexual partners who have multiple partners or who participate in high-risk sexual activities
- Weakened immune system
- Limited access to health care
Symptoms include:
Many times, early cervical cancer has no symptoms. However, the two most common symptoms of cervical cancer are vaginal discharge and abnormal bleeding.
Other symptoms that may occur include:
- Bleeding or pain after intercourse
- Vaginal bleeding between periods
- Periods become heavier or last longer
- Bleeding after menopause
The majority of ovarian cancers occur after menopause and originate from the surface (epithelial) cells of the ovary. However, ovarian cancer can arise in younger women. Due to the absence of an effective screening test and the vague symptoms associated with the disease, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed after it has spread into the abdominal cavity.
Risk factors include:
The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age and peaks at approximately 70 years old. Common risk factors include those conditions which are associated with increased ovulation:
- Few pregnancies
- Decreased fertility
- Delayed child-bearing
- A small portion of the population has an abnormal gene, which markedly increases their risk of ovarian and breast cancer
Symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Change in bowel or bladder function
Endometrial cancer, also known as uterine cancer, is cancer that forms in the lining (endometrium) of a woman’s uterus. Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecologic cancer.
Risk factors include:
Higher levels of estrogen – which stimulates growth of the endometrium – increases a woman’s risk of developing endometrial cancer. Factors that increase levels of estrogen in the body include:
- Greater than normal years of menstruation
- Never been pregnant
- Irregular ovulation
- Obesity
- A high-fat diet
- Diabetes
- Certain types of ovarian tumours that produce estrogen
Symptoms include:
Most cases of endometrial cancer develop in postmenopausal women, whose periods have stopped. The first symptom that something is wrong may be abnormal vaginal bleeding. Other signs and symptoms include:
- Any bleeding after menopause
- Prolonged periods or bleeding between periods
- An abnormal, non-bloody discharge from your vagina
- Pain during intercourse
Most women with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) have no symptoms at all. When a woman with VIN does have a symptom, it is most often itching that does not go away or get better. An area of VIN may look different from normal vulvar skin. It is often thicker and lighter than the normal skin around it. However, an area of VIN can also appear red, pink, or darker than the surrounding skin. Because these changes are often caused by other conditions that are not pre-cancerous, some women don’t realize that they might have a serious condition.
Symptoms include:
- An area on the vulva that looks different from normal – it could be lighter or darker than the normal skin around it, or look red or pink.
- A bump or lump, which could be red, pink, or white and could have a wart-like or raw
surface or feel rough or thick. - Thickening of the skin of the vulva.
- Itching
- Pain or burning
- Bleeding or discharge not related to the normal menstrual period.
- An open sore (especially if it lasts for a month or more)
Vaginal cancer is a rare cancer that occurs in your vagina — the muscular tube that connects your uterus with your outer genitals. Vaginal cancer most commonly occurs in the cells that line the surface of your vagina, which is sometimes called the birth canal.
A diagnosis of early-stage vaginal cancer has the best chance for a cure. Vaginal cancer that spreads beyond the vagina is much more difficult to treat.
Symptoms include:
Early vaginal cancer may not cause any signs and symptoms. As it progresses, vaginal cancer may cause signs and symptoms such as:
- Unusual vaginal bleeding, for example, after intercourse or after menopause
- Watery vaginal discharge
- Painful urination
- Frequent urination
- Constipation
- Pelvic pain
There are five gynaecological cancers – womb, ovarian, cervical, vaginal and vulval – but awareness levels of these cancers are very low in India. Every year in India lakhs of women die from gynaecological cancers. That’s far too many mothers, wives, daughters, partners and friends in our opinion, and at Apollo CBCC we’re determined to stop this. Part of our mission is to ensure that women and men are aware of what to look out for, because recognising gynaecological cancer symptoms can mean an earlier diagnosis, leading to a better outcome.
Educate yourself
Start a Conversation
The next step is to educate your loved ones about these deadly diseases. Tell them about the risk factors and symptoms because timely recognising symptoms can mean an earlier diagnosis, leading to a better outcome.
Attention to yourself
Prevention
Apollo CBCC is the leading provider of gynaecologic cancer care, treating more women than any other hospital in Gujarat. With a tailored, comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach that includes, prevention, early detection, the use of promising state-of-the-art technology and the holistic care, the team at Apollo CBCC provides gynaecologic patients with best possible treatment.
In our endeavour to fight cancer, we have brought the latest cancer treatments from the most advanced countries of the world to India thus making sure that patients in this nation receive the world-class cancer care. CBCC’s philosophy is to treat our patients in the same way we would want our loved ones to get treated and that is why a holistic approach to health is what we have adopted in our cancer care. We have a compassionate and understanding staff to take care of all your needs at all the times in your crucial journey be it physical, psychological, social or spiritual.
