The Facts.

Gynaecological cancers affect a woman’s reproductive system.

Each year, there are 10 million registered cases of cancer in the world. One million of these will be gynaecological cancers.

The worldwide mortality rate for gynaecological cancers has reduced at a slower rate over the last 20 years than any other type of cancer. More than 65% of patients diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer will die as a result.

Gynaecological cancers include:

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is known as the silent killer as the ovaries are situated deep inside the body, which means that the cancer is not usually detected at an early stage.
Most women who develop this cancer do not have obvious symptoms until the cancer has spread outside the ovary to other organs, such as the bowel. By this time it is very difficult to treat effectively.
Over 85% of women in the UK suffering from ovarian cancer will die from the disease when it is detected at the most advanced stage.
About 95% of women will survive when the disease is detected in the early stages.
The challenge of ovarian cancer is to predict which women in the population are most likely to get ovarian cancer and to find methods to detect their cancer earlier, when it is more treatable.

Cancer of the Cervix

Worldwide, cancer of the cervix is the deadliest form of gynaecological cancer amongst women.
This cancer is more common in younger women. Treatment is frequently successful- but the disease can make it impossible for these women to have children.
Current treatment for the disease has serious complications and side effects.
The challenge of this disease is to improve methods for screening and prevention whilst decreasing the side effects and the complications of treatment.

Cancer of the Womb

Endometrial cancer is the most common form of cancer of the womb.
This cancer tends to occur after the menopause, usually in the early 60s.
Endometrial cancer is the 5th most common type of cancer affecting women in the UK.
Approximately 3,000 - 4,000 women in the UK can be cured from this disease by a straightforward procedure - hysterectomy.
Effective treatment is much more difficult for the other 1,000 women each year who have the more aggressive form of this cancer.
The challenge is to find ways to detect and offer effective treatment to women who have the more aggressive type of cancer.

Cancer of the Vulva

Cancer of the vulva usually affects women between the ages of 55 and 75 but can occur in younger women.
Cancer of the vulva can take many years to develop as it grows slowly. However, it is easier to treat and cure at an early stage.
Cancer of the vulva is rare and affects 1,000 women a year in UK.

Women and their families deal with the disease with such strength. These are terrible tales edged with heroism. It is difficult to quantify the loss of a mother or wife. As a doctor, I cannot give false hope, but through research we can all have real hope.

Dr Usha Menon, Head of Gynaecological Cancer Research Unit.