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Morrrrrning! It& #39;s time for another #fannyfact and this one is a LONG ONE so bed in. We like a good bit of humour here at the Vagina Museum, but today& #39;s one is a quite serious, so a warning that there is not humour throughout, but important information to read and take away!
We& #39;re highlighting the 5 gynae cancers & this info is cribbed from amazing resources provided by @eveappeal
In the UK over 21,000 a year are diagnosed with a form of gynaecological cancer, which equates to approximately 58 people per day, but awareness of this is incredibly low.
In the UK over 21,000 a year are diagnosed with a form of gynaecological cancer, which equates to approximately 58 people per day, but awareness of this is incredibly low.
There are five gynaecological cancers - womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal. (Infographic courtesy of @eveappeal)
Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynae cancer and over 7,000 new cases are confirmed in the UK every year. It is also one of the most difficult to diagnose and is often overlooked and written off as another illness or condition, such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
The main symptoms of ovarian cancer are persistent bloating, persistent pain in the abdomen, continually feeling full or finding difficulty in eating & a noticeable change in toilet habits - i.e. urinating more and having noticeable change in your bowel movements.
Womb cancer, also referred to as uterine cancer, or endometrium cancer if found in the lining of the womb, is the most common of the 5 gynae cancers and there are over 9,000 new cases confirmed and reported in the UK each year
It is often found fairly early in its development and initial indicators of potential womb cancer are vaginal bleeds in between periods, significant change in the heaviness of your period and also vaginal discharge that is pink/brown and watery in texture.
Womb cancer is most commonly treated through hysterectomy, the removal of the womb, and often no further treatment is required, but not in all cases.
Cervical cancer is mostly caused by HPV (human papilloma virus) that is contracted through skin to skin sexual contact. However, and we must stress this, having HPV DOES NOT automatically mean you will get cervical cancer - HPV often goes away all by itself without a trace
However, if it doesn& #39;t go away, there is a risk that abnormal cells can develop from HPV, which is what a smear/pap test looks for - this is why smears/pap tests are SO IMPORTANT as it is the main way we find any abnormal cells in the cervix and can catch any issues early!
Although rare, cell abnormalities can turn into cancerous cells if left untreated, so PLEASE go to screening appointments - they are vital to your overall gynae health! (Ironically our curator got her smear reminder letter the day lockdown started... so that wasn& #39;t best timed...)
Symptoms for cervical cancer include vaginal bleeding after penetrative sex and also in between period bleeds - please don& #39;t ignore this or write it off as a blip!
Vaginal cancer is the rarest of the gynae cancers with less than 300 cases confirmed in the UK each year. Around 20% of people diagnosed say they felt they had no symptoms at all.
However, the most common symptom is bleeding in between periods, after menopause or after penetrative sex (there is a theme here) as well as noticeably smelly vaginal discharge, a persistent itch in the vagina and also potentially a lump in the vaginal canal.
Having any of the above symptoms of vaginal cancer doesn& #39;t automatically mean you have it, and most likely is a sign of infection such as bacterial vaginosis or thrush - however it is important to know what is normal for your own body to be able to distinguish between these
Vulval cancer is predominantly more common in individuals over 60 years old in the UK - around 80% of diagnosis is in the 60+ age group. Much like vaginal cancer, its symptoms could be a sign of something non-cancerous such as infection, however it& #39;s important to know your normal
One of the biggest issues around vulval cancer is that individuals with a vulval rarely actually LOOK at their vulva. This means that they are unlikely to see the main potential symptoms of vulval cancer which include change of texture or colour.
Other symptoms of vulval cancer include ongoing pain, formation of a lump you can see and feel, or even a mole that changes shape and/or colour. If you are unaware of what colour your vulva normally is, or its normal skin texture, you are much less likely to notice these changes.
It is advised that if you feel you have any of the above symptom groups for more than three weeks that you should seek assistance from your medical doctor and have a chat with them about any further action needed.
For more accessible and informative information about the 5 gynae cancers check out @eveappeal and their website https://eveappeal.org.uk/ ">https://eveappeal.org.uk/">...
