Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer

Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer
Learn the signs, symptoms, and risk factors related to gynecologic cancers, including cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.

Gynecologic cancers are cancers that start in a woman's reproductive organs. There are five main types of gynecologic cancer—

Cervical cancer.
Ovarian cancer.
Uterine cancer.
Vaginal cancer.
Vulvar cancer.

Each gynecologic cancer is unique, with different signs, symptoms, risk factors (things that may increase your chance of getting a disease), and prevention strategies.

Learn more about each gynecologic cancer, including warning sign and risk factors—

Cervical Cancer (670KB, 2 pages) http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/pdf/cervical_facts.pdf

Ovarian Cancer (864KB, 2 pages)
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/pdf/Ovarian_FS_0308.pdf

Uterine Cancer (856KB, 2 pages)
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/uterine/pdf/Uterine_FS_0308.pdf

Vaginal and Vulvar Cancers (774KB, 2 pages)
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/vagvulv/pdf/vagvulv_facts.pdf

Symptoms
There is no way to know for sure which women will get a gynecologic cancer. That's why it is important to pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you, so you can recognize the warning signs or symptoms of gynecologic cancer.

If you notice any unexplained signs or symptoms, talk to your doctor, nurse, or other health care provider right away. Symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see a doctor.

When gynecologic cancers are found early, treatment can be most effective.

Prevention
Some gynecologic cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (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 recommended for 11- and 12-year-old girls. Ideally, girls should get three doses of this vaccine before their first sexual contact. It also can be given to girls and women who are 13–26 who did not get any or all of the shots when they were younger. If you or someone you care about is in this age range, talk with a doctor about it.

There is a screening test for cervical cancer (the Pap test) that can find precancerous changes on the cervix so they can be treated before they become cancerous. In this way cervical cancer is prevented. The Pap test can also find cervical cancer at an early stage, when treatment is most effective.

In addition to the Pap test, which is the main test for cervical cancer, there is a test that looks for HPV. It may be used for screening women aged 30 years and older, or at any age for women who have unclear Pap test results. Learn more about the Pap and HPV tests to screen.

The Pap test only checks for cervical cancer. It does not check for ovarian, uterine, vaginal, or vulvar cancers. There is no simple and reliable way to test for the other gynecologic cancers in women who do not have any signs or symptoms.

Treatment
If your doctor says that you have a gynecologic cancer, ask to be referred to a gynecologic oncologist—a doctor who has been trained to treat cancers of a woman's reproductive system. This doctor will work with you to create a treatment plan.

Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer Campaign
CDC, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health, established the Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer campaign to raise awareness of the five main types of gynecologic cancer: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar.

Inside Knowledge is an initiative that supports the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act of 2005, or Johanna's Law ( 49KB, 3 pages), which was passed unanimously by the 109th Congress in 2006, and signed into law in 2007.

Developed and implemented by CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, the campaign—

Provides information about gynecologic cancers.
Produces and disseminates educational materials in English and Spanish.
Educates women and health care providers about the signs and symptoms of gynecologic cancers, screening tests (if available), risk factors, and prevention strategies.