Did you know that each day, there are around 58 gynaecological cancer diagnosis. If we do the maths that is 21,000 cancer diagnosis each year in the UK for gynaecological cancers alone – a shockingly high amount. It is a huge number, but the awareness for these cancers are astonishingly low.
The only way to get ahead of cancer and get an early diagnosis is to become more connected with your body and begin to recognise what is normal for you and when you should seek medical advice. Here we discuss the 5 main gynaecological cancers: ovarian, womb, vaginal, cervical and vulval. Let’s start the conversation about gynaecological cancers and get comfortable speaking about what doesn’t feel right. There should be no shame in talking about our health, especially when it comes to something as important as cancer.
Womb cancer
Did you know, womb cancer is the 4th most common UK cancer and the most common gynaecological cancer?
Womb cancer can be called multiple different names, including endometrial cancer and uterine cancer. But don’t be alarmed if your doctor uses them interchangeably, they’re talking about the same type of cancer. Womb cancers mainly affect post-menopausal women, which tends to be women over 50. However, 1 in 4 women affected by womb cancer have not yet gone through menopause.
Some of the signs of womb cancer include abdominal pain and pain during sex, however, the most common symptom of womb cancer is irregular vaginal bleeding. If you are post-menopausal, you will likely notice irregular bleeding as your periods would have stopped. However, it can take a while for periods to stop altogether so it’s important to maintain a good understanding of your body’s patterns. Only 1 in 10 cases of irregular bleeding in post-menopause lead to a womb cancer diagnosis, so try not to panic. However, if you are unsure or are worried go to your GP and get it checked – womb cancer caught early is usually curable. If you haven’t been through the menopause, irregular bleeding could be caused by endometriosis or fibroids, so it is always a good idea to check in with your healthcare provider.
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is the 6th most common type of cancer amongst women. There are 3 types of ovarian cancer: ger cell, stromal ovarian and epithelial ovarian. Epithelial ovarian is the most common type of ovarian cancer.
Again, just like womb cancer, ovarian cancer is more common in post-menopausal women, but this does not mean it doesn’t occur in younger women. Ovarian cancer symptoms can sometimes be masked by symptoms from other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, and premenstrual syndrome. This can make it more difficult to pick up and hence can lead to a later diagnosis. Knowing the signs of ovarian cancer is important as an early diagnosis means a better chance of beating it! The 4 main ovarian cancer symptoms are: persistent bloating and increased abdominal size, abdominal bloating, explained bowel changes and feeling full quicker than normal. The NHS recommends that you visit your gP if you are experiencing bloating more than 12 times a month. They will be able to run some simple tests to rule out ovarian cancer and give you advice on how to navigate your symptoms.
Cervical cancer
Cervical screening in the UK roughly saves over 4,000 lives each year, which is why it is so important we attend our regular appointments.
Unlike the two other cancers we discussed earlier, cervical cancer predominantly affects women aged 30-45. It is thought to be rare in women under 25. In the UK, women 25-64 years old are invited to pap smears for cervical screening on the NHS. The symptoms of cervical cancer are ambiguous and might not present itself until the later stages of the cancer. Some women might not experience any symptoms at all which is why there is a great emphasis on the importance of attending all your cervical screening appointments.
The main symptom is unusual bleeding such as bleeding at any other time outside your period. The other symptoms might include pain or uncomfortable sex and an unpleasant odour vaginal discharge. There is a high survival rate if cervical cancer is caught earlier, and your smear test can even reveal precancerous cells. So don’t fear the smear, it’s actually a great opportunity to protect yourself from cancer.
Vulva cancer
Vulva cancer is the rarest form of gynaecological cancers which is why you might not have heard of it before.
First, let me explain what the vulva is (believe it or not many women still get confused!). This medical word is used to describe our external women’s genitalia, something you might call your vaginal lips, the mighty clitoris and two small tiny glands located inside the vagina that supply us with natural lubrication. Vulva cancer is cancer impacting any of these areas and are mainly diagnosed in women over the age of 60 but, again, it doesn’t mean that younger women can’t be affected.
As the vulva is the external part of our genitals, the signs are often clearer than with other gynaecological cancers. The symptoms include itchiness, pain/soreness, an open visible growth on the skin, a mole on the vulva that changes in shape or colour, a vulval lump or swelling and thickened/raised/red/white or dark patches on the vulval skin. These symptoms can be very uncomfortable so don’t suffer in silence and visit your GP to get them looked at.
Vaginal cancer
Vaginal cancer is the rarest form of gynaecological cancer and only 250 cases are diagnosed each year in the UK.
There is a precancerous stage of vaginal cancer called vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) followed by the cancerous stage. Symptoms very rarely present in the VAIN stages. Some of the symptoms you may notice are unexpected bleeding or smelly or bloody vaginal bleed. You may also notice pain during intercourse or urination and persistent pelvic or vaginal pain. Some women may develop a vaginal lump or growth and a vaginal itch. Sadly, a lot of women diagnosed with vaginal cancer do not have any symptoms at all during their time of diagnosis, which is why it can be so difficult to catch early. As always, try to connect with our body and don’t shy away from seeking medical support if you feel like something isn’t right.
How to decrease your risk of gynaecological cancer
Cancer is a terrible disease that does not discriminate – it can impact anyone. However, there are a few steps you can take to help reduce the risk of developing gynaecological cancer.
- Know your family history. You are more likely to develop gynaecological cancer if one of your blood relatives has had it in the past. Get informed about your family medical history and share that information with your doctor – it could can help improve chances of early diagnosis.
- HPV. HPV are a group of common infections that are often spread through unprotected sex. They are also linked to an increased risk of cervical cancer. Practicing safe sex (aka using condoms) is the best way to prevent you catching HPV.
- Regular screening. 1 in 4 women miss their regular smear test – but these appointments are key to early diagnosis of gynaecological cancers. Make sure never to miss yours and reach out to your GP if you’re unsure when your next appointment is.
- Smoking: Smoking is linked to various different types of cancer – including gynaecological ones. Even if you do not smoke, exposure to secondhand smoke or passive smoking can also put you in harm’s way. If you want to stop smoking, the NHS offers help, so reach out to your GP and get more information.
- Healthy diet: As the saying goes“you are what you eat”. Although a healthy diet cannot guarantee a cancer-free life, it can definitely reduce your risk. So swap those saturated fats for lovely nutrient-rich greens.
