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Cervical Cancer Almost all cervical cancer is caused by an infection from a virus called HPV or human papillomavirus. HPV infection is very common and is spread through sexual contact. Most people don't know they have HPV because they have no symptoms. It is the only gynecologic cancer that can be detected with regular screening which includes a Pap test.
Most women with cervical precancer lesions report no symptoms, thus it is important to get regular screenings before symptoms are present. Have your first Pap test about three years after the first time you have sex, or when you reach age 21, whichever comes first. Keep getting Pap tests every one to three years. If you are 30 or older, an HPV test may be done along with the Pap test. Talk with your doctor or nurse about whether and when you should get a Pap test if you are 65 or older.
Ovarian Cancer Ovarian cancer, the seventh most common cancer among women, usually starts on the surface of the ovary in cells that are called epithelial cells. About 85 to 90 percent of ovarian cancers are epithelial ovarian cancers. Symptoms include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly and/or urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency). The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age, especially around the time of menopause. A family history of ovarian cancer is one of the most important risk factors. Currently, there is no widely accepted and effective screening test for epithelial ovarian cancer.
Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer Most uterine cancers begin in the lining of the uterus which is also called the endometrium. Cancer of the endometrium is the most common reproductive cancer. Symptoms include bleeding after menopause or irregular vaginal bleeding before menopause. There are no screening tests for endometrial cancer, but most cancers are found in the early stages when women report their symptom of abnormal bleeding to their doctor and have a biopsy that shows the cancer. Exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight all can lower a woman's risk of getting uterine cancer.
Fighting cancer is hard, but we're always working to bring the latest technological advances and therapy options to provide coordinated, patient-centered care in a convenient, friendly setting.
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