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
    •

    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.

If cancer runs in your family, be sure to tell your doctor about this. The doctor will want to know what type of cancer each person had and at what age. Based on your medical history and your family history, genetic testing and counseling may be recommended.

There are certain genes that have been identified as increasing a person's chance of having a particular kind of cancer.

Mutations in the BRCA 1 and/or BRCA 2 genes have been associated with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC) and an increase in male breast and prostate cancers. BRCA mutations have also been associated with melanoma and pancreatic cancer.

There are other genes that have been associated with Lynch Syndrome (Hereditary Non-polyposis Colorectal Cancer - HNPCC). These genes have been connected to some colorectal cancer, uterine and ovarian cancer and cancers of the stomach, small bowel, urinary tract, and biliary tract.

The following websites have some good basic information. When you read this information, here are definitions you might find helpful.

autosomal -- means the gene can be inherited from other parent; it is not on the x or y chromosome.

dominant -- It only takes 1 abnormal gene in a person's inherited pair of genes to cause a potential problem.

recessive -- If one abnormal gene is in a person's inherited pair of genes, she/he should not have a problem. However, he/she is a carrier, meaning he/she could pass that gene on to offspring. It takes 2 abnormal genes (1 from each parent) in a person's inherited pair of genes to cause a potential problem in her/him.

Genetics of Ovarian Cancer

http://cancer.about.com/od/causes/a/geneticcancer_2.htm

http://www.ovariancancer.jhmi.edu/hereditary.cfm (little more technical)

Myriad Genetics