Basic Information About Gynecologic Cancers

Five main types of cancer affect a woman's reproductive organs: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. As a group, they are referred to as gynecologic cancer. (A sixth type of gynecologic cancer is the very rare fallopian tube cancer.)
In 2007 (the most recent year numbers are available)—

80,976 women in the United States were diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer.*†
27,739 women in the United States died from a gynecologic cancer.*†

*Incidence counts cover approximately 99% of the U.S. population. Death counts cover 100% of the U.S. population. Use caution in comparing incidence and death counts.

†Source: U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2007 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2010. Available at: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/uscs/

CDC is promoting awareness of gynecologic cancer through its national gynecologic cancer awareness campaign, Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer.

What Is Gynecologic Cancer?

Gynecologic cancer is any cancer that starts in a woman's reproductive organs. Cancer is always named for the part of the body where it starts. Gynecologic cancers begin in different places within a woman's pelvis, which is the area below the stomach and in between the hip bones. Diagram of the female genital tract depicting fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva.

Diagram of the female genital tract depicting fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva.

Cervical cancer begins in the cervix, which is the lower, narrow end of the uterus. (The uterus is also called the womb.)
Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries, which are located on each side of the uterus.
Uterine cancer begins in the uterus, the pear-shaped organ in a woman's pelvis where the baby grows when a woman is pregnant.
Vaginal cancer begins in the vagina, which is the hollow, tube-like channel between the bottom of the uterus and the outside of the body.
Vulvar cancer begins in the vulva, the outer part of the female genital organs.

Each gynecologic cancer is unique, with different signs and symptoms, different risk factors (things that may increase your chance of getting a disease), and different prevention strategies. All women are at risk for gynecologic cancers, and risk increases with age. When gynecologic cancers are found early, treatment is most effective.

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CDC - Basic Information About Gynecologic Cancers

Symptoms
There is no way to know for sure if you 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 have vaginal bleeding that is unusual for you, talk to a doctor right away. You should also see a doctor if you have any other warning signs that last for two weeks or longer and are not normal for you. Symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see a doctor.

Signs and symptoms are not the same for everyone and each gynecologic cancer (cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancers) has its own signs and symptoms.

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CDC - Symptoms of Gynecologic Cancers

Inside Knowledge Campaign

The Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer campaign raises awareness of the five main types of gynecologic cancer: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. It encourages women to pay attention to their bodies and know what is normal for them, so they can recognize the warning signs of gynecologic cancers and seek medical care. When gynecologic cancers are found early, treatment is most effective.
Photo of Jenny Allen

“Be Brave. Ask Questions.”

The newest Inside Knowledge public service announcements (PSAs) feature Jenny Allen, a mother, writer, and performer. She has performed her one-woman play, "I Got Sick Then I Got Better" in New York City and many other cities around the country. In the Inside Knowledge television, print, and radio PSAs, Ms. Allen encourages women to see a doctor if they have symptoms that are not normal for them and last two weeks or longer. She movingly tells her personal story of how she noticed symptoms, learned she had both uterine and ovarian cancers, and received treatment. She tells women, "Be brave. Ask questions. Chances are you don't have cancer, but find out for sure."
You can also go behind the scenes at the filming of the campaign's PSAs for a special CDC Web exclusive with Jenny Allen.
Photo of five women

New Campaign Materials

Inside Knowledge has created a suite of materials in English and Spanish for patients and health care providers. Fact sheets, a symptoms diary,

[PDF-503KB] and posters on the five most common gynecologic cancers can be viewed, printed, and ordered online.
Television and radio PSAs can be viewed and heard online; transcripts are available.
The newest materials from Inside Knowledge include a Symptoms Diary Wallet Card

[PDF-830KB] that allows women to track symptoms, even when they are on the go, and a comprehensive brochure

[PDF-2.9MB] that includes detailed information about each of the gynecologic cancers and discusses signs, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.

Personal Survivor Stories

Each year in the United States, approximately 71,500 women are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. And recent estimates from the National Cancer Institute show that approximately 1.1 million American women were alive with a history of gynecologic cancer as of January 1, 2007.

Data source: Altekruse SF, Kosary CL, Krapcho M, Neyman N, Aminou R, Waldron W, Ruhl J, Howlader N, Tatalovich Z, Cho H, Mariotto A, Eisner MP, Lewis DR, Cronin K, Chen HS, Feuer EJ, Stinchcomb DG, Edwards BK (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975–2007, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2007/

, based on November 2009 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER Web site, 2010.

A new Inside Knowledge Web site feature focuses on women who have survived gynecologic cancer. Four women share their personal experience of being diagnosed with and treated for gynecologic cancers. Each has important advice for other women.
Read about—

Campaign Research

CDC has conducted extensive research as part of its Inside Knowledge campaign development, including—

Analysis of existing educational materials and messages that identified gaps in information and assessed the need for new specialized materials.
Analysis of data from Porter Novelli's HealthStyles and DocStyles surveys, from which CDC commissioned questions in 2008 and 2009 to gather baseline information on women's and health care providers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to gynecologic cancer.
- Stewart SL, Rim SH, Gelb CA. Physician knowledge and awareness of CA-125 as a screen for ovarian cancer in the asymptomatic, average-risk population. Health Education and Behavior 2011.
- Hawkins NA, Cooper CP, Saraiya M, Gelb CA, Polonec L. Why the Pap test? Awareness and use of the Pap test among women in the United States. Journal of Women's Health 2011.
- Poster Presentation: Public and Provider Awareness of a CA-125 Test as a Screen for Ovarian Cancer [PDF-123KB]
Formative research, message and concept testing using focus groups conducted in 2009 across the U.S. to learn more about women's knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about gynecologic cancers, and to identify creative approaches and strategies to ensure campaign materials deliver intended messages in the most effective ways.
- Cooper CP, Polonec L, Gelb CA. Women's knowledge and awareness of gynecologic cancer: a multisite qualitative study in the United States. Journal of Women's Health 2011.

In addition, CDC convened a meeting of gynecologic cancer experts to exchange information on public health messaging and strategies to raise awareness among women about gynecologic cancer. Feedback from this meeting provided CDC with a general framework for the Inside Knowledge campaign.

Campaign Messages

The central messages of Inside Knowledge are—

There are several types of gynecologic cancer.
When gynecologic cancers are found early, treatment is most effective.
Pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you. Gynecologic cancers have warning signs.
If you have vaginal bleeding that is unusual for you because of when it occurs or how heavy it is, see a doctor right away.
If you notice any other unexplained signs or symptoms that last for two weeks or longer, see a doctor.
Get a Pap test regularly to screen for cervical cancer.
Get the HPV vaccine, if you are 11–26 years old.
If you are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer, see a gynecologic oncologist—a doctor who is trained to treat cancers of the female reproductive system.

About the Campaign

Inside Knowledge supports the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act of 2005, or Johanna's Law.

[PDF-49KB] The law is named for Johanna Silver Gordon, who died of ovarian cancer in 2000. Johanna's sister, Sheryl Silver, originated the legislation in 2002 and, with the support of numerous nonprofit organizations, helped ensure its passage. The campaign's target audiences include women and health professionals. Learn more about the Inside Knowledge campaign

[PDF-1.61MB].

Support and Resources

Additional resources are available related to the five main gynecologic cancers, cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar, including links to general information, patient support services, and research and provider organizations.
Search CDC's scientific articles on gynecologic cancers.