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• Physical activity: regular activity may reduce the risk - bleeding or spotting not linked with your period What can I do? of several including tubo-ovarian . - Polymenorrhoea (periods more often than usual) • Women and people with a cervix aged 25-74 years of Gynaecological • Sexual history: Most people who have ever been - Menorrhagia (heavier periods than usual) age can participate in 5 yearly screening sexually active will have HPV at some point in their to protect against cervical cancer. • Bleeding or spotting after sexual intercourse: lives. Your risk of HPV infection increases with your • Support HPV vaccination for high school aged children, - this is abnormal at any age and should be checked cancers. number of sexual partners. encourage them to get both of the doses of the HPV straight away Prevention and early detection vaccine. • Abnormal . Finding gynaecological cancer early can mean the • You still need regular cervical screening (if eligible) even if cancer is smaller, less likely to have spread to other • Lower abdominal (tummy) symptoms: you have been vaccinated against HPV. parts of the body and there may be more treatment - discomfort or pressure in the lower tummy • Be aware of what feels ‘right’ for your body and discuss choices. - swelling or bloating changes with your doctor or health worker. Of the gynaecological cancers, only cervical cancer - feeling of fullness even after a light meal • Talk to your doctor or health worker about any family or has a screening test (a test for use when there are personal history of cancer. NO symptoms of cervical cancer). Cervical screening • Pain: looks for HPV infection in the cells of the cervix. If HPV - difficult or painful to pee • Maintain a healthy lifestyle. is found, the same sample is re-tested to look for any - pain during sexual intercourse • Quit smoking. changes in the cells of the cervix. Cervical cancer is • Changes in bowel or bladder function: Further information: rare. It usually takes 10 to 15 years for changes in cells - hard poo WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program (WACCPP) caused by this virus to turn into cervical cancer. If you T: (08) 6458 1740 - runny poo are aged 25-74 years, and have ever been sexually healthywa.wa.gov.au/cervicalscreening active you should have a Cervical Screening Test every - urge to pee more often National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) five years. • Severe itchiness of the vulva. Contact the NCSR to find out when you are next due for Students in year 7 are invited to be vaccinated against • Any changes to the vulva or vagina, including: cervical screening. HPV as part of the school-based immunisation T: 1800 627 701 - blood, pus or other vaginal discharge program. The HPV vaccine protects against certain ncsr.gov.au - itching, burning or soreness types of HPV, which can lead to a number of cancers Cancer Council in the genital and anal area as well head and neck - a new or changing lump, a sore or swelling https://www.cancer.org.au/cervicalscreening cancers. The vaccine doesn’t protect against all types - a mole on the vulva that has changed shape Cancer Australia of HPV that can cause cervical cancer, which is why it is or colour T: 1800 624 973 important that you still have regular cervical screening Remember that having any of these symptoms does canceraustralia.gov.au even if you have had the HPV vaccine. not mean you have cancer, but it is important to see HPV Vaccine Symptoms of gynaecological cancers a doctor or health worker as soon as possible because hpvvaccine.org.au If you have any symptoms for more than three to four early detection can improve the chances of successful Gynaecological Awareness Information Network (GAIN) weeks and they are unusual for you, see your doctor or treatment. T: 08 9340 1670 health worker. gain.org.au • Abnormal vaginal bleeding: - for post-menopausal women - any vaginal bleeding or spotting For support and information on cancer and cancer-related - for women who still have their period, including issues, call our Cancer Council nurses on 13 11 20 women who are peri-menopausal (transition or visit cancerwa.asn.au. into menopause) Calls are confidential and available statewide Monday to Friday during business hours. 13 11 20 Cancer Council

09/21 Gynaecological Cancers Female reproductive system Age Reproductive and hormonal factors Internal organs Gynaecological cancers are more common in the post Reproductive and hormonal factors that have Gynaecological cancers are cancers of the female menopausal years (over the age of 50), but they can been shown to have an impact on the risk of some reproductive system and include cervical, ovarian and occur at younger ages. gynaecological cancers for example: , uterine (womb), vaginal and vulval Family history of cancer • Having few or no pregnancies increases the risk of cancers. A family history of cervical, vaginal or vulval cancer does some tubo-ovarian and uterine cancers. Cervical cancer not increase your risk of developing these cancers. Being • Young age at first period and/or late menopause The cervix is the opening of the (womb), and is a carrier of variants in genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2, increases the risk of some tubo-ovarian and Uterus at the top of the vagina. Nearly all cervical cancers are and some other less common genes, increases your risk uterine cancers. caused by long-term infection by some subtypes of Cervix of tubo- and other cancers such as breast • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) and human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV can cause cervical cell Vagina cancer. Having a close relative who has had cancer Tamoxifen (a drug that may be used to treat breast changes, that may turn into cancer. Vulva of the breast, bowel or ovary may increase your risk of cancer) have both been linked with an increased Regular cervical screening can find HPV and any cell (external risk of (The benefits of MHT and/ External organs genitals) tubo-ovarian cancer. Of those who do develop tubo- changes it may cause. If cell changes are found they can ovarian cancer most do not have a family history of the or Tamoxifen must be considered and women should be watched and if needed treated, before they have a Mons pubis disease. discuss their personal risk and needs with their doctor). chance to become cancer. This makes cervical cancer • Use of the oral contraceptive pill may slightly Clitoris A diagnosis of Lynch Syndrome increases the risk of very preventable. increase the risk of cervical cancer, but decrease Urethra developing tubo-ovarian and uterine cancer. Ovarian and fallopian tube cancer the risk of tubo-ovarian and uterine cancer. Outer lips (labia majora) If you are worried about your family history, talk to your The female reproductive system usually has two • If your mother was given the hormone Opening of vagina doctor or health worker. and two fallopian tubes, with one of each being located Inner lips (labia minora) diethylstilboestrol (DES) while pregnant with you, on either side of the uterus (womb). Ovarian cancer is Bartholin’s gland Personal history of cancer then you may be at increased risk of a rare cervical not one single disease and there are different subtypes. Perineum Any previous cancer diagnosis may increase your risk of and (Between 1940 and the 1970s Some ovarian cancers occur when cells grow abnormally Anus developing any type of cancer in the future. DES was given to some pregnant women to prevent in the outer covering of an ovary. The most common Human papillomavirus miscarriage). (Illustration Luisa Chisari, subtype of 'ovarian' cancer, actually begins in the courtesy Cancer Council Victoria) HPV is a common infection. Anyone can get HPV. There Lifestyle factors fallopian tube. These are high-grade serous cancers are more than 100 different types of HPV, which infect • Smoking: along with many other cancers, smoking and are known as tubo-ovarian cancer. You can have different parts of the body. Some types of HPV cause increases the risk of cervical, vulval and tubo- a primary ovarian cancer that does not involve the common warts on the hands and feet. About 40 types most common gynaecological cancer in Australia. ovarian cancer. fallopian tube. of HPV are known as genital HPV as they affect the • Poor diet: a diet low in fruit, vegetables and grains, The uterus is hollow and holds a developing baby during Vulval cancer anal and genital area. Genital HPV is spread by intimate and high in saturated fat may increase tubo- pregnancy. The uterus sits low in the pelvis between the The vulva is the external part of the female sex organs, skin to skin contact, including sexual intercourse. Most ovarian cancer risk and the risk of other cancers bladder and rectum. and includes the labia majora (outer lips), the labia people will have at least one type of genital HPV in their such as bowel cancer. minora (smaller inner lips) and the clitoris. Cancer of the There are two main types of uterine cancer: lifetime. • Being overweight or obese: excess fatty tissue turns vulva can start in any part of these tissues. • is cancer of the uterus lining and HPV is a key risk factor in the development of cervical certain hormones into a form of oestrogen and is the most common type of uterine cancer. cancer and causes some vaginal and vulval cancers. Vaginal cancer women with high levels of oestrogen are twice as • forms in muscle or other tissues of Most HPV infections will never develop into cancer. In The vagina is a muscular tube from the cervix to the likely to develop uterine cancer. the uterus. most cases HPV is naturally cleared by the body over vulva. There are two types of vaginal cancer: • Type II diabetes: may increase the risk of one to two years. Vaccination against HPV infection is • Squamous cell : the most common type Risk factors for gynaecological cancers endometrial cancer as a result of changed recommended for adolescents aged approximately 12 that begins in the cells covering the vagina. The exact cause of most gynaecological cancer is not hormone levels. In women with diabetes, vulval itch to 13 years (at school), and is offered for free to Year 7 • : begins in the gland cells that line clear. Some factors that have a role in the growth of these and ulcers may go unnoticed (due to less sensitivity students under the National Immunisation Program. the vagina. cancers are known. Having one or more of these risk of peripheral nerves), which increases the risk of Immunisation for immunocompromised people is Uterine cancer factors does not mean you will develop a gynaecological vulval cancer going undetected if it does develop. recommended at any age. Uterine cancer is cancer of the uterus (womb) and is the cancer.