Gynecologic Cancer
Gynecologic cancers are complex diseases that require specialized care. That’s why our specialists are ready with the skills and supportive care you need. As an accredited Comprehensive Community Cancer Program, we offer nearly all the same options and technology you’d find at an academic medical center, just close to home.
We’ll take a comprehensive approach to your gynecologic cancer treatment, caring for you from diagnosis to recovery. We’ll also make sure your treatment plan is tailored to you—accounting for your unique diagnosis, needs and treatment goals.
What is Gynecologic Cancer?
Gynecologic cancer is cancer that starts in a woman’s reproductive organs. This may include:
- The cervix (cervical cancer)
- The ovaries (ovarian cancer)
- The uterus (uterine cancer or endometrial cancer)
- The vagina (vaginal cancer)
- The vulvar (vulvar cancer)
Several risk factors are linked to the development of gynecologic cancer. Age and HPV infection are the most common. Risk increases with age for every type of gynecologic cancer. A past or current HPV infection is linked to cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers.
Each kind of gynecologic cancer is different, with its own types, risk factors, symptoms, diagnostic tests and treatment options.
Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer starts in the lining of the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus. Cancer forms when normal cells begin developing abnormal changes, called precancers, over time.
Not all women with precancerous cells develop cervical cancer, but treating precancers can prevent almost all cervical cancers. That’s why cervical cancer screening tests—the human papillomavirus (HPV) test and the Pap test—are so important.
Risk Factors
Although almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV, other risk factors include:
- Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES)
- Family history of cervical cancer
- Having chlamydia infection
- Having many sexual partners
- Long-term use of birth control
- Sexual activity at a young age
- Smoking
Symptoms
Early cervical cancers usually don’t cause symptoms. But once the cancer grows into nearby tissue, symptoms may include pain during sex, pain in the pelvic region and unusual bleeding or discharge.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer can begin in the ovaries themselves or in the cells of the fallopian tubes, which are the tubes eggs pass through from the ovaries to the uterus.
The majority of ovarian cancers are epithelial ovarian tumors, meaning they start from cells that cover the outer surface of the ovary. Others include ovarian germ cell tumors (cancers that form in the germ cells of the ovaries) and ovarian stromal tumors (cancers that begin in the structural tissue cells that hold the ovary together and produce estrogen and progesterone).
Risk Factors
For ovarian cancer, risk factors include:
- Being overweight
- Family history of ovarian, breast or colorectal cancer
- Having children later in life
- History of breast cancer
- Taking hormone therapy after menopause
- Using fertility treatment
- Smoking
Symptoms
Early-stage ovarian cancers can cause symptoms, such as abnormal vaginal bleeding, bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain or feeling an urgent or frequent need to urinate.
Uterine Cancer or Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer forms in the endometrium (the inner lining) of the uterus. Most endometrial cancers are adenocarcinomas, but some can be uterine carcinosarcomas, squamous cell carcinomas, small cell carcinomas, or transitional or serous carcinomas.
Risk Factors
For endometrial cancer, risk factors include:
- Being overweight
- Family history of endometrial cancer
- Having radiation therapy to the pelvis in the past
- High-fat diet
- History of breast or ovarian cancer, or endometrial hyperplasia
- Taking hormone therapy after menopause
- Type 2 diabetes
- Use of an intrauterine device (IUD)
Symptoms
For endometrial cancer, symptoms can include abnormal vaginal bleeding, a mass in the pelvic region, pelvic pain and unexplained weight loss.
Vaginal Cancer
Vaginal cancer, which starts in the vagina, is very rare. There are many different types of the disease, but the most common is squamous cell carcinoma, which starts in the lining of the vagina.
Risk Factors
For vaginal cancer, risk factors include:
- Alcohol use
- Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES)
- History of cervical cancer
- HIV infection
- Smoking
Symptoms
Once vaginal cancer has spread, symptoms may include a mass or lump in the vagina, pain during sex or unusual vaginal bleeding and discharge.
Vulvar Cancer
Vulvar cancer forms in the vulva—the outer part of the female reproductive organs. This kind of cancer most often affects the inner edges of the labia.
Risk Factors
For vulvar cancer, risk factors include:
- History of lichen sclerosus
- HIV infection
- Smoking
- Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia
Symptoms
Vulvar cancers typically don’t cause symptoms unless they’ve advanced. When this happens, symptoms may include:
- A mass or lump
- An open sore that won’t go away
- Different-colored or thickened skin
- Pain, burning or itching
- Unusual vaginal discharge
Diagnosing Gynecologic Cancer
Cervical cancer is the only gynecologic cancer with screening tests that can find the disease early, when it’s smaller and easier to treat. The Pap test looks for precancerous cells on the cervix. The HPV test looks for evidence of a current or past HPV infection, which can cause cell changes.
If a Pap or HPV test comes back abnormal, your doctor will likely order diagnostic tests, which may include:
- Biopsy
- Blood tests
- Colposcopy
- Imaging tests
- Pelvic exam
Gynecologic cancers other than cervical cancer are most often found when a woman experiences symptoms, or during a test for something else. If a doctor suspects gynecologic cancer, they’ll order diagnostic tests to either rule it out or confirm the presence of disease.
Treating Gynecologic Cancer
Gynecologic cancers are typically treated similarly, although treatment can vary based on the kind of cancer and whether it’s spread.
For early cervical cancers, for example, we may recommend either surgery or radiation combined with chemotherapy. For more advanced cervical cancers, we may use radiation combined with chemotherapy. Most ovarian, endometrial and vulvar cancers are treated with surgery, either alone or with radiation and/or chemotherapy.
For vaginal cancer, radiation is often recommended for early-stage disease, but we may use surgery and chemotherapy, too.
