Women and Other forms of Cancer
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Ovarian cancer is cancer of the ovaries. Ovarian cancer is hard to diagnose because there are no symptoms in the early stages; it is not usually detectable by a Pap test or biopsy. Treatment involves surgical removal of the tumor and the ovary, often followed by radiation or chemotherapy. If ovarian cancer is found early, the chances of survival are much greater. More than 95% of cancers of the uterus involve the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. Certain women appear more at risk for developing endometrial cancer than others, including those who are American and who have had exposure to high-energy radiation. Obesity, treatment with tamoxifen, infertility, diabetes, menstruation before the age of 12, and menopause after the age of 52 are risk factors for endometrial cancer. Treatments include the surgical removal of the uterus, which is known as a hysterectomy. Vaginal cancer is rare, accounting for only about 2-3% of the cancers of the female reproductive system, although some cancers start in other organs (such as the uterus or bladder) and then spread to the vagina. Symptoms include abnormal vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, a mass that can be felt, and pain during intercourse. Treatment options, based on the type of cancer and stage of the disease when diagnosed, include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy in combination with radiation for advanced disease.