A Guide For Perimenopausal And Postmenopausal Women
Gynecologic cancer is any cancer that starts in a woman’s reproductive organs. There are five main types: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. While the incidence of such cancers is relatively rare, some— such as ovarian, endometrial, and uterine cancer—are more often diagnosed in women who are perimenopausal or menopausal.
For effective treatment, early detection is the key— and that requires a woman to pay attention to her body.
Noah Goldman, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at Clara Maass Medical Center, explains:
What symptoms are cause for concern related to gynecologic cancers?
Each type has different symptoms. For uterine cancer, if a woman is menopausal and having any bleeding, or is perimenopausal and having abnormal bleeding, that should be investigated.
For cervical cancer, a regular Pap smear is a must. Abnormal results will signal to your doctor that something should be looked at. Vaginal and vulvar cancers can often be observed during regular gynecologic exams.
Ovarian cancer is different because the symptoms are vague—bloating, low energy, changes in appetite. We all have those things sometimes. I tell patients that if they have symptoms that last longer than expected, such as more than five to seven days, they should see their primary care provider or gynecologist. He or she can decide whether you need to see a specialist.
If you do make an appointment, what will the doctor need to know?
If you’ve been having symptoms for a few days, start jotting down what they are and when you’re having them. That will help the doctor figure out what tests may need to be performed. That said, it is the norm for patients to be somewhat vague regarding symptoms. That’s part of our job as doctors, to figure out temporal relationships, symptoms, and what we need to do.
One of my big priorities is to get women to listen to their bodies and recognize when something is different or wrong. Nobody knows what’s happening with a patient better than the patient herself.
Is there any way to lower the risk of getting gynecologic cancer?
As with other cancers, keeping a healthy weight, staying active, eating a nutritious diet and not smoking can help lower a person’s risk. Using oral contraceptives and having a full-term pregnancy before age 35 appears to lower the risk of ovarian cancer.
Cervical cancer is caused by some kinds of human papillomavirus, or HPV, which are spread through skin-to-skin contact, mainly sexual activity. It can be prevented by the vaccine for HPV, which is recommended for people from ages 11 or 12 up to age 45.
No matter the type of cancer, regular health checkups and screenings are key to early detection and successful treatment.
What else should women know about gynecologic cancers?
My big push is always to listen to what your body’s telling you. Women tend to push forward with their lives when they notice symptoms because they have family and work obligations and they don’t have time to get to the doctor. You have to make the time to take care of yourself.
Don’t put off the health care you need. We’ve taken every precaution for the safety of our patients, visitors, and employees.
To find a gynecologist at Clara Maass Medical Center, visit www.rwjbh.org/claramaass.