Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Campaign
What We Will Discuss
Part I.
What You Need to Know About Gynecologic Cancers
Part II: Recognizing the Warning Signs
Part III: Prevention, Screening, and Treatment
Part IV: Inside Knowledge and GFWC
What You Need to Know
About Gynecologic
Cancers
Gynecologic Cancer
• Gynecologic cancer is any cancer that starts in a
woman's reproductive organs.
• These cancers begin in different places within a
woman's pelvis.
• There are five main types of
gynecologic cancers:
‒ Ovarian
‒ Uterine
‒ Cervical
‒ Vaginal
‒ Vulvar
How Many Women Are Affected?
• In the U.S. in 2009 (the last year for which data are
available), more than 84,000 women were diagnosed
with a gynecologic cancer.
• Nearly 28,000 died from a gynecologic cancer in 2009.
• Of the five main gynecologic cancers:
‒ Most common – Uterine
‒ Least common – Vaginal
‒ Most preventable – Cervical
‒ Deadliest – Ovarian
Who Gets Gynecologic Cancer?
• All women are at risk; risk generally increases with age.
• Each gynecologic cancer is unique.
• Risk factors differ from cancer to cancer.
‒ Cervical: HPV (human papillomavirus) infection
‒ Ovarian: age 50+; having certain genetic risk factors; having
several close relatives with ovarian or breast cancer; being of
Eastern European Jewish background
‒ Uterine: age 50+, hormone replacement therapy using estrogen
alone
‒ Vaginal: age 50+, exposure to HPV
‒ Vulvar: exposure to HPV
Recognizing the
Warning Signs
Recognize Symptoms
• Gynecologic cancers have warning signs.
• Pay attention to your body so you know what is normal
for you.
• When gynecologic cancers are found early, treatment
can be most effective.
The Warning Signs
Cervical Cancer Symptoms
• Early on, cervical cancer
may not cause signs and
symptoms.
• In later stages, cervical
cancer may cause
bleeding or discharge
from the vagina that is not
normal for you.
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
Ovarian cancer may cause:
• Vaginal bleeding or
discharge that is not
normal for you.
• Pelvic pain or pressure.
• Back pain.
• Bloating or feeling full
quickly while eating.
• A change in bathroom
habits, such as having to
urinate more often than
normal and more urgently;
and being unusually
constipated; or having
diarrhea that persists.
Uterine Cancer Symptoms
Uterine cancer may cause
these signs and symptoms:
• Vaginal discharge that is
not normal for you.
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
– because of how heavy it
is or when it happens, such
as after menopause;
between periods; or any
other bleeding that is
longer or heavier than
normal for you.
• Pain or pressure in your
pelvis.
Vaginal Cancer Symptoms
Most vaginal cancers don’t
cause symptoms at first. But
if symptoms are present,
they can include:
• Vaginal discharge or
bleeding that’s not normal
for you.
• A change in bathroom
habits, such as having
blood in the stool or urine;
urinating more often than
usual; feeling constipated.
• Pelvic or abdominal pain,
especially when urinating
or having sex.
Vulvar Cancer Symptoms
Symptoms of vulvar cancer
may include:
• Itching, burning, or
bleeding on the vulva.
• Skin changes, such as the
vulva being redder or
whiter than is normal for
you, or having a rash,
warts, lumps, or ulcers
that don’t go away.
Recognize the Warning Signs
Remember – signs and symptoms don’t necessarily mean
it’s cancer. But the only way to know what’s causing
symptoms is to see a health care provider.
Gynecologic cancers are more treatable and beatable
when they are caught early.
Prevention, Screening,
and Treatment
Cervical Cancer Screening
Two tests help prevent cervical cancer or find it early:
1. The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for precancers, cell changes,
on the cervix that can be treated, so that cervical cancer is
prevented.
• Can detect cervical cancer at an early stage, when treatment
works best
• Recommended for all women starting at age 21.
‒ If results are normal, you may be able to wait 3 years for the
next one.
‒ After several normal Pap tests and upon reaching age 65,
your doctor may say you can stop getting the Pap test.
• Women who don’t need a Pap are:
‒ Older than 65, with a history of normal Pap test results.
‒ Have had their cervix removed as part of a hysterectomy for
a non-cancerous condition, like fibroids.
Cervical Cancer Screening
Two tests help prevent cervical cancer or find it early:
2. The HPV test looks for the Human Papillomavirus — the virus that
can cause precancerous cell changes and cervical cancer.
• Can be used to screen for cervical cancer along with the Pap
test in women 30 years and older.
• Also used to provide more information when women aged 21
years and older have unclear Pap test results.
Cervical Cancer Prevention
The HPV Vaccine
• Given in a series of three
shots, it protects against the
types of HPV that most often
cause cervical, vaginal, and
vulvar cancers.
• Recommended for 11- and
12-year-old girls and for girls
and women aged 13-26 who
did not get any or all of the
shots when they were
younger.
• The vaccine can be given to
girls beginning at age 9.
Gynecologic Cancer Diagnosis
• Tests used to diagnose
gynecologic cancers
include:
- Transvaginal
ultrasound
- CA-125 blood test
- Biopsies of the
appropriate
gynecologic organs
• Genetic tests
Treatment for Gynecologic Cancer
• Treatment for gynecologic
cancer typically may include
‒ Surgery
‒ Chemotherapy
‒ Radiation therapy
• Following diagnosis
‒ Ask to be referred to a
gynecologic oncologist—a
doctor specifically trained to
treat these women’s cancers
‒ Find out about cancer
staging
Ask Your Health Care Provider
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What is my risk for getting a gynecologic cancer?
When should I have my next Pap test?
What do my Pap test results mean?
Is the HPV test right for me?
When can I stop getting a Pap test?
Are there other gynecologic cancer tests that I need, based on my
personal health and family cancer history?
7. I have noticed [insert any symptom you are experiencing], which is
not normal for me. Could this be caused by a gynecologic cancer?
If so, what should I do next?
The Inside Knowledge
Campaign and GFWC
The Campaign’s Origins
• In 2007, Congress enacted
Johanna’s Law (the Gynecologic
Cancer Awareness Act).
─ The law is named for Johanna
Silver Gordon, who died from
ovarian cancer in 2000.
•
The law aims to increase
awareness of gynecologic cancers,
and their signs, symptoms and risk
factors, to more effectively prevent,
detect and treat these cancers.
Campaign Goals
•
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched
Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer in
collaboration with the Dept. of Health and Human Services’ Office
on Women’s Health.
•
The campaign has three primary goals:
1. Raise awareness of the signs, symptoms, risk factors, and prevention
strategies related to the five main types of gynecologic cancer:
cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar.
2. Encourage women to pay attention to their bodies and know what is
normal for them, to increase recognition of warning signs and
symptoms.
3. Encourage women to seek medical attention and ask about
gynecologic cancers when faced with warning signs that persist.
From Woman to Woman
Inside Knowledge uses a womanto-woman approach, to:
•
•
•
Offer audiences the opportunity to
connect with “real” women,
especially survivors, who can
speak about gynecologic cancer.
Reflect women’s tendency to seek
counsel from friends and loved
ones.
Provide important information in a
straightforward but compelling
manner.
“Be brave. Ask questions.”
“Warning signs are not the
same for everyone”
Free Campaign Materials
Free Campaign Materials
Inside Knowledge and GFWC
The CDC works with GFWC to:
• Disseminate Inside Knowledge
resources to GFWC clubs
nationwide.
• Share survivors’ stories at events,
meetings, conventions, and in
Clubwoman magazine.
• Provide members with tools to
educate women
in their communities.
Inside Knowledge and GFWC
As a GWFC member, you can
help educate women about
gynecologic cancer:
• Provide Inside Knowledge
materials to other GFWC
members, colleagues,
friends, and family.
• Host a workshop for friends
about gynecologic cancer,
using Inside Knowledge
resources.
• Share campaign resources
with local media and
encourage them to use the
materials.
Inside Knowledge and GFWC
You can also use Inside Knowledge resources during key holidays and
women’s health observances:
• National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month (January)
• Mother’s Day (May)
• National Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month (September)
• National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (September)
Let’s encourage women to get the facts and the Inside Knowledge
about gynecologic cancer.
Contact Us
To see or hear PSAs, order materials, and learn more,
please visit
www.cdc.gov/cancer/knowledge
For additional information
about Inside Knowledge, please contact
alexandra.vaughn@ogilvy.com
(202) 729-4263