Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness of the different types of cancers that originate in a woman’s reproductive organs.Each year, about 94,000 women are diagnosed with gynecologic cancer so it is important to understand the risk factors and possible symptoms along with available treatment options. All women are at risk for these cancers, but when they are found early, treatment is most effective.
What Are the Types of Gynecologic Cancers?
- Cervical cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Vaginal cancer
- Vulvar cancer
What Are the Symptoms?
According to the CDC, the following are potential symptoms of a gynecologic cancer:
- Pelvic pain or pressure that doesn’t go away, and you don’t know why
- Feeling too full, too fast, even when you eat just a little
- Unusual vaginal bleeding, like having longer or heavier periods than what’s normal for you, or bleeding after you’ve gone through menopause
It is important to pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you, so you can recognize the symptoms of gynecologic cancer.
What Can You Do to Reduce Risk?
- HPV Vaccine
- Screening Tests
- Pap/HPV Tests
- Recognize the Warning Signs
- Speak with Your Healthcare Provider if You Believe You Are at Increased Risk Based on Family History
How Can GenPath Women’s Health Support You?
At GenPath Women’s Health, a division of BioReference Laboratories, offers a number of different tests to screen for, diagnose, or identify hereditary risk of gynecologic cancers. Our comprehensive test menu combined with our expansive in network coverage solutions can help make each patient’s healthcare journey simple.
Click here for more information on how our Pap and HPV testing and hereditary cancer screening can help aid in the detection and diagnosis of gynecologic cancers.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/resources/features/gynecologiccancers/index.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/pdf/USCS-DataBrief-No11-September2019-h.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/gynecologic/basic_info/prevention.htm
