Most Common Types of Gynecologic Cancers

  • Endometrial/Uterine is the most common GYN cancer. The primary symptom of endometrial cancer is abnormal bleeding.
  • Ovarian cancer is the second most common GYN cancer. Since there are no effective screening tests, one must be aware of the earliest symptoms of ovarian cancer.
  • Cervical cancer has been steadily decreasing in incidence with the increased prevalence of pap smear screening. We encourage you to get an annual pap smear.

Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

    Recent studies have shown that most women with ovarian cancer have had some or all of the following symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks:

  • Bloating
  • Pelvic or abdominal pain
  • Urinary urgency or frequency
  • Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
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    The key is whether that is change from normal for your body.

    Other symptoms can include fatigue, indigestion, back pain, pain with intercourse, constipation, and menstrual irregularity.

    Because the signs and symptoms of GYN cancers may also be associated with other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, it is important that your physician take seriously the possibility that ovarian cancer may be present, especially if you have a family or personal history of ovarian, breast, or colon cancer, and have never borne children.

    If you should have these symptoms, please see your gynecologist, who can follow-up with some diagnostic tests - CA125, transvaginal ultrasound, and pelvic exam. If these results indicate the possibility of ovarian cancer, ask - no, insist - to be referred to a gyn oncologist.

Who We Are

The CanSurvive GYN Cancer Support Group is for women with gynecologic cancers, their families, friends, loved ones and the professionals who treat them. We recognize that in addition to excellent medical care, there is a deep need for emotional, spiritual, and educational support when faced with the challenge of a life-threatening illness.

Therefore our goals are to:

  • Create a setting in which patients can offer one another emotional, social, and spiritual help.
  • Provide opportunities to learn about gynecologic cancers, treatments, and
  • Provide practical support for patients, directly or indirectly.
  • Make it possible for patients and professionals to interact in informal settings
  • Promote GYN Cancer Awareness
  • Actively participate in local and national events that support GYN cancers.

We offer 2 meetings a month: the first Sunday afternoon and the 3rd Friday at lunchtime. The Sunday meeting has a separate meeting room for caregivers to share. Details about these meetings can be found on our Home page.

We often have speakers and sometimes we share or plan. In our November meeting we put together 200-250 goody bags to be given to patients getting chemo in November and December. Because some patients are too ill to attend a meeting, we provide meeting notes on this website.

Many ladies will exchange email address and telephone numbers so they can talk further throughout the month. The best part about the CanSurvive group is that someone with gyn cancer can meet (in person or even by e-mail or phone calls) other gyn cancer survivors and find support, encouragement, hope, and know they are not alone. It means so much to talk to someone who has "been there".

During September, CanSurvive members staff awareness tables and speak one-to-one about the signs and symptoms of gynecologic cancers. We provide literature, also. We provide awareness tables at local events, such as research fund-raisers.

CanSurvive is a member of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. We try to attend the national meetings every year. We are also active in the community to promote awareness of ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancers.

History

Our Group was started in 1998 by Dr. Terri Pustilnik. She saw the need for a Support Group in the Birmingham area. Founding members were Mary Ellen Nicholas, Charlotte Davis, Miranda Watkins, Carolyn Fiore, Susie Jackson, JoLane Gable, Beth Hosmer and Brenda Lamb.