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Even with an annual Pap smear test and the new vaccination for young women, cervical cancer can’t be totally prevented. But there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of developing cancer of the cervix.
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Vaginal cancer is a relatively rare disorder, comprising about 2% to 3% of all gynecologic cancers. Approximately 2,400 women are diagnosed each year with vaginal cancer in the United States.
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The chance of getting ovarian cancer increases as a woman gets older. Ovarian cancer occurs in women over the age of 50 and the highest risk is in women over 60.
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Uterine cancer is the most common of all cancers in the female reproductive system. It can either form in the inner lining of the uterus or the outer layer of muscle tissue.
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Thought to be caused by a problem with the genetic information transmitted between an egg and sperm, molar pregnancy can develop during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Testimonials
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When Jan Holsclaw found out she had ovarian cancer, she was referred to Dr. Bigsby at Florida Hospital Cancer Institute for surgery and treatment. With reassuring words and...
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TV Personality Jan C. Garavaglia, M.D., (aka "Dr. G") is the chief medical examiner for the District Nine (Orange-Osceola) Medical Examiner's Office in Florida. When she... -
Bonnie has helped to raise millions of dollars for ovarian cancer research taking place at National Cancer Institute (NCI), Department of Defense (DOD), Centers for Disease...
Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer occurs in the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. It is usually a slow growing cancer, so you may not have any discernible symptoms. However, a Pap test can detect its presence, even if you don’t have any known symptoms.
In most cases of cervical cancer, the cause is the human papillomavirus, or HPV for short. This virus is transmitted from one person to another through sexual intercourse. There are 40 different types of HPV viruses. Not all of them cause cancer and many go away on their own without medical intervention.
Cervical cancers don’t always spread. But if they do, cancers of the cervix can also infect the lungs, liver, bladder, vagina and the rectum.
While abstinence is the best way to prevent HPV, a new vaccine on the market, Gardisil®, was recently approved for use on young women age 9 to 26. It prevents most strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer and genital warts.