Comprehensive Gynecologic Cancer Care

Factors that increase risk of developing endometrial cancer:

• Most commonly diagnosed around age 60
• Higher risk with increased body weight. A BMI over 35 significantly increases your risk.
• Early menstruation, late menopause and no pregnancies exposes the endometrium to estrogen exposure and an increased risk of endometrial cancer
• A diet high in fat
• Genetic conditions such as Lynch syndrome
• Family history of a parent, sibling or child with endometrial cancer
• Personal history of PCOS, anovulation or oligoovulation

Maintaining a healthy weight and BMI by eating a healthy diet and staying active can reduce your risk of endometrial cancer.

• Bleeding of any kind after menopause. Any bleeding after menopause is not normal. This doesn’t mean it is cancer, but it does deserve to be checked by your provider.
• Pay attention to abnormal vaginal spotting between periods as roughly 20% of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer are premenopausal and 5% are younger than 40 years of age.
  
  

• There are currently no screenings available to detect endometrial cancer
• Noticing abnormal bleeding or abnormal discharge and reaching out to your provider is key to early detection.
  
  

• Ovarian cancer is most often found in postmenopausal women
• Ovarian cancer is rare in women younger than 40 years of age
• Ovarian cancer is more common in White women than Black women
• Women with inherited gene mutations, such as BRCA1, BRCA2 or Lynch syndrome
• Family history or a parent, sibling or child with ovarian cancer
• Starting periods at young age or late menopause
• Personal history of endometriosis
• Personal history of infertility
• Personal history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Personal history of IUD use
  
  

• Women with a parent, sibling or child with ovarian cancer may consider genetic counseling and testing.
• Women at higher risk may consider oral contraceptive medication to lower risk.
• We believe evidence shows that 80% of epithelial ovarian cancer begins in the fallopian tubes. Because of this, women with the highest risk of ovarian cancer may discuss with their provider if a salpingectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy would be beneficial to surgically remove these reproductive organs to reduce future risk of developing ovarian cancer.
  
  

• Abdominal or pelvic pain
• Symptoms may feel like digestive issues
• Bloating or persistent abdominal discomfort
• Nausea or vomiting
• Changes in appetite or feeling full quickly
  
  

• Internal pelvic exams during annual well woman visits are performed to check internally. If a mass or something abnormal is found on examination, then further evaluation with imaging or a CA-125 blood test may be ordered
• Women with a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer may discuss with their provider close monitoring with serial imaging and blood work
  
  

• Ovarian cancer is a very aggressive cancer that accounts for more deaths than all the other gynecologic cancers combined.
• Treatment generally consists of a combination of surgery and chemotherapy.
  
  

Cervical cancer is most often diagnosed in younger women. Your risk for developing cervical cancer is higher if you:

• Have human papillomavirus (HPV) or chlamydia infections
• Women who smoke
• Women with a weakened immune system
• Women with three or more full term pregnancies
• Cervical cancer risk is not genetic or familial, but directly related to frequency and age of onset of intercourse

Because HPV is common and can lead to cervical cancer years after infection, the HPV vaccine offers safe, effective protection by preventing infection with the HPV types responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.

Early cervical cancers may not show signs or symptoms, which is why on time, regular pap smears are so important.

Reach out to your women’s health or primary care provider if you notice:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Pain in your pelvic region

Most cervical cancer begins as cervical precancer that arises through intercourse and exposure to the HPV virus. This precancer can be readily detected through routine pap smear screening, so when treated, it never has chance to advance to invasive cervical cancer, thus risk is reduced with regular, on-time Pap smears.

Ages 21 to 29
Begin Pap smears at age 21 and repeat every three years

Ages 30 to 64
Pap smears with HPV co-testing every five years OR Pap smears without HPV co-testing every three years

Ages 65 and older
Talk with your health care provider about the recommended screening interval if you have a history of abnormal Pap smears or other abnormal cervical conditions

If a Pap smear shows HPV or abnormal cells, your gynecologist may recommend further evaluation, such as a colposcopy or biopsy, to examine the cervix more closely. Treatment may include removing abnormal cells early—before they become cancerous—and may be followed by more frequent Pap smears to monitor your health.