Gynecologic Cancers : Overview
Gynecologic cancerss include cancer of the uterus, ovaries, cervix, vagina, vulva and Fallopian tubes.
- According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 83,000 women per year are diagnosed with some form of gynecologic or GYN cancer.
- The most common Gynecologic cancers is uterine cancer with more than 40,000 cases diagnosed each year.
- Every year, more than 28,000 women die from a type of Gynecologic cancers.
- Widespread screening with the Pap test has allowed doctors to find pre-cancerous changes in the cervix and vagina. This has helped prevent the development of some invasive cancers.
15 Common Myths about Cervical Cancer:
Explainations of common misconceptions and fears about this largely preventable disease
Columbus, GA – About 9,700 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year.
It may seem like a small number, until you consider that another 1.2 million women will develop a
pre-cancerous condition called dysplasia. And if left untreated, dysplasia will become cervical cancer.
“Because of Pap smears, a huge number of women are no longer dying of cervical cancer in this country, but
this is a disease that can be almost entirely prevented,” says T Jack Tidwell, MD FACRO, MD Anderson-trained
Radiation Oncologist, of the Tidwell Cancer Treatment Center.
In addition to early detection through screening, a new vaccine now available could help prevent cervical
cancer. In honor of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, which is January, common myths and misconceptions
about this disease are explained.
Myth 1: Cervical cancer cannot be prevented.
Truth: Infection with the human papillomavirus, or HPV, is an absolute requirement for cervical cancer to
develop. This virus is transmitted sexually, but the majority of the most worrisome types of infection can be
prevented with a newly available vaccine. Preventing HPV infection dramatically reduces a woman’s risk of
cervical cancer. Behavioral issues can also influence cervical cancer. “A woman can reduce her risk of these
problems by limiting the number of sexual partners over a lifetime, by not smoking cigarettes and by
following accepted screening guidelines. In addition, cervical cancer usually develops slowly after persistent
infection with HPV and will first appear as a precancerous condition called dysplasia. If detected at this stage,
it can be effectively treated to prevent cervical cancer from developing. Screening with Pap smears and tests
for HPV detect these pre-cancerous conditions so patients are treated early.
Myth 2: I don’t have intercourse, so I don’t need the HPV vaccine.
Truth: HPV can be passed from one partner to another through intercourse, as well as orally and through
touching. In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine, Gardasil, to protect against four
types of HPV, two of which are commonly linked to cervical cancer and two linked to genital warts. A CDC
advisory committee recommended that Gardasil be given routinely to girls age 11-13. Until everyone is
vaccinated, girls and women ages 13-26 are also candidates for the vaccine. Experts believe the vaccine should
be given at a young age before a woman becomes sexually active.
Myth 3: My doctor gave me a pelvic exam, which is the same as a Pap test.
Truth: The Pap test collects cells from the cervix, which are sent to a lab to be evaluated. In a pelvic exam, your doctor
physically examines the cervix and other parts of a woman’s anatomy. Both are important to detect problems early.
Myth 4: I had the HPV vaccine, so I don’t need to use condoms during sex.
Truth: The HPV vaccine will protect you from infection with four types of HPV – but there are other strains of
this virus and many other sexually transmitted diseases that it does not protect against. Continue using condoms
to protect against STDs.
Myth 5: I’m too young to worry about cervical cancer.
Truth: The average age of cervical cancer patients is 48. While it’s not common, women can be diagnosed in
their 20s. HPV infection and the precancerous condition dysplasia are common in younger women.
Myth 6: I don’t need a Pap test.
Truth: A woman’s first Pap test should be given when she turns 21 or three years after she begins having intercourse,
whichever comes first. Recommendations differ for how often a woman should receive a Pap test. Ask
your doctor how often you should be screened. Even if you have the HPV vaccine, you still need a regular Pap
test. The vaccine targets four types of HPV but it will not protect against all the types of HPV that can cause
cervical cancer, so it’s still important to continue regular screenings.
Myth 7: Taking hormone replacement therapy will increase my risk of cervical cancer.
Truth: Cervical cancer does not respond to hormones like breast or ovarian cancers. Low doses of hormone
replacement therapy can treat menopausal symptoms without increasing the risk of cervical cancer.
Myth 8: I’m too old to need a Pap test any longer.
Truth: There has been an increase lately in cervical cancer and HIV in older populations. Women can have new
sexual partners, which puts them at risk of cervical cancer and other STD’s. Talk to your health care provider
about the need to have Pap smears even if you have gone through menopause, have had a hysterectomy, or are
over the age of 65.
Myth 9: My Pap test was abnormal, which means I must have cancer.
Truth: Not necessarily. You’ll likely need follow-up tests, possibly a test for HPV, colposcopy or a biopsy to test
for cancerous cells. An abnormal Pap test could indicate a precancerous condition that can be treated.
Conversely, a negative Pap test does not always mean a woman is cancer-free. About 10 percent of all Pap tests
return a false negative result, meaning the test did not identify a problem that is there. If you have problems
such as bleeding or pain, seek further care even if your last Pap test was normal.
Myth 10: Cervical cancer has no symptoms.
Truth: Bleeding after intercourse, bleeding between menstrual periods or bleeding after menopause may indicate
cervical cancer. Other symptoms include an abnormal discharge or pain in the pelvic region.
Myth 11: After I finish treatment, I will live the rest of my life worried about cancer returning.
Truth: If cervical cancer is going to recur, it is most likely to happen in the first two years after treatment. Most
patients are followed for five years, after which the risk of recurrence is extremely low.
Myth 12: A hysterectomy to treat cervical cancer will put me in menopause afterward.
Truth: Hysterectomy to treat cervical cancer does not remove the ovaries, which are what determines whether a
person is menopausal. Cervical cancer very rarely spreads to the ovaries. Women who receive pelvic radiation to
treat cervical cancer will likely experience menopause because the radiation will affect the ovaries.
Myth 13: I must have a hysterectomy to treat cervical cancer.
Truth: Early cervical cancer is typically treated with a hysterectomy, surgery that removes the cervix and uterus.
But it’s not the only option. Radiation and chemotherapy are used to treat more advanced disease and may also
be options for women with early stage disease who cannot have surgery. Some women with early cervical cancer
can also avoid hysterectomy with procedures such as a cone biopsy that removes only the cancerous tissue and
a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue, or a procedure called radical trachelectomy, which removes the
cervix but not the uterus.
Myth 14: If I am diagnosed with cervical cancer, I am going to die.
Truth: Survival after cervical cancer caught in its earliest stage is 92 percent. The later it is diagnosed, the lower
the chance of survival. Survival is lower in developing countries because of inadequate screening. Regular
screening will help ensure cervical cancer is caught at an early, treatable stage.
Myth 15: I won’t be able to conceive a child after cervical cancer treatment.
Truth: If you have a hysterectomy or radiation to treat cervical cancer, you will not be able to conceive. But
newer surgical procedures help preserve a woman’s fertility without compromising survival. A radical trachelectomy
removes the cervix but not the uterus so that a woman can still conceive. For small, early cancers, a cone
biopsy may be appropriate and will also preserve fertility.
For more information about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine, please contact Jan Pease
and the Tidwell Cancer Treatment Center at (706) 593-2938
