Cancers that start in the female reproductive system are called gynaecological cancers. There are five main gynaecological cancers, these are cervical, ovarian, womb, vaginal, and vulval.
What local information is available to me if I, or someone I know, has been diagnosed with cancer?
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital website offers patients information about Cancer Services that are available locally, to find out more please visit Cancer Services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. For Women’s Services you can also visit Women's Services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
Click on the following headings to find out more
Cervical cancer is when abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix grow in an uncontrolled way. The cervix is part of the female reproductive system.
Signs and symptoms:
Not everyone diagnosed with cervical cancer will have symptoms, some initial symptoms may include:
- Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause.
- Menstrual bleeding that is heavier and lasts longer than usual. Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odour.
- Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse
- Pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy
Please visit your GP if you have any concerns
Cervical screening:
Cervical cancer screening is a medical screening test designed to identify risk of cervical cancer. Cervical screening may involve looking for viral DNA, and/or to identify abnormal, potentially precancerous cells within the cervix as well as cells that have progressed to early stages of cervical cancer.
The NHS offers cervical screening to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 years. The aim of cervical screening is to prevent cervical cancer from developing before you have any symptoms.
If you would like to learn more about cervical screening, please visit Cancer Research UK.
HPV vaccination:
The HPV vaccine can help protect against cervical cancer. The vaccine gives the body a safe way to build immune system awareness of some HPV strains. This means the body has an easier time clearing out those strains of the virus if a person catches them later.
Ovarian cancer is when abnormal cells in the ovary begin to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. They eventually form a growth (tumour). If not caught early, cancer cells gradually grow into the surrounding tissues.
Signs and symptoms:
- Feeling bloated all the time
- A swollen tummy and tummy pain
- discomfort in your tummy or pelvic area
- feeling full quickly when eating
- needing to pee more often than usual
The symptoms are not always easy to recognise because they are like some more common conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Please visit your GP if you have any concerns
Useful links:
Womb cancer is cancer that affects the womb (uterus). It's most common in women who've been through menopause. Anyone with a womb can get womb cancer.
It's not clear exactly what causes womb cancer, but certain things can increase your risk of developing the condition. A hormone imbalance is one of the most important risks for womb cancer. Specifically, your risk is increased if you have high levels of a hormone called oestrogen in your body.
Most womb cancer usually starts in the lining of the womb (endometrium), this is also known as endometrial cancer.
The most common symptom of womb cancer is abnormal bleeding from the vagina. This is especially common in women who have stopped having periods (post-menopausal women).
Signs and symptoms:
- Bleeding or spotting from the vagina after the menopause
- Heavy periods from your vagina that is unusual for you
- Vaginal bleeding between your periods
- Changes to your vaginal discharge
- A lump or swelling in your tummy or between your hip bones (pelvis)
- Pain in your lower back or between your hip bones (pelvis)
- Pain during sex
- Blood in your pee
Please visit your GP if you have any concerns
Useful links:
Vaginal cancer is a very rare cancer that's found anywhere in the vagina. It is most common in women aged 75 and over.
Vaginal cancer is nearly always caused by an infection from certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV). It's often found and prevented by attending cervical screening, which aims to find and treat abnormalities before they turn into cancer.
Vaginal cancer usually grows very slowly and how serious it is will depend on how big it is, if it has spread, and your general health.
Signs and symptoms:
- A lump in the vagina
- Ulcers and other skin changes in or around the vagina
- Bleeding from the vagina after the menopause
- Bleeding after sex or pain during sex
- Smelly or bloodstained vaginal discharge
- Bleeding between periods
- An itch in your vagina that will not go away
- Pain when you pee, or needing to pee a lot
Please visit your GP if you have any concerns.
Useful links:
- Help and support for vaginal cancer - NHS
- Cancer Champions Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin
- Cancer Research UK
- Vaginal cancer - Macmillan Cancer Support
- Women’s Services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
- Women's Health - Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust
- Breast and Cervical Screening - Shropshire Council
- Lingen Davies
Cancer of the vulva is a rare type of cancer that affects women, usually older over the age of 65.
The vulva is a woman's external genitals, it includes:
- The lips surrounding the vagina (labia minora and labia majora)
- The clitoris, the sexual organ that helps women reach sexual climax
- The Bartholin's glands, 2 small glands each side of the vagina
What causes vulval cancer?
The exact cause of vulval cancer is unclear, but your risk of developing the condition is increased by the following factors:
- Increasing age
- Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) – where the cells in the vulva are abnormal and at risk of turning cancerous
- Persistent infection with certain versions of the human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Skin conditions affecting the vulva, such as lichen sclerosus
- Smoking
Signs and symptoms:
- A persistent itch in the vulva
- Pain, soreness, or tenderness in the vulva
- Raised and thickened patches of skin that can be red, white, or dark
- A lump or wart-like growth on the vulva
- Bleeding from the vulva or blood-stained vaginal discharge between periods
- An open sore in the vulva
- A burning pain when peeing
- A mole on the vulva that changes shape or colour
Please visit your GP if you have any concerns.
Useful links:
Tests:
- Biopsy
- Blood tests
- Colposcopy
- Cystoscopy
- Hysteroscopy
- CT Scan
- MRI scan
- Pelvic Examination
- PET Scan
- Ultrasound Scan
- X-ray
Treatment:
Common treatments for gynaecological cancers include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and any other suitably identified medically treatments. Sometimes, these treatments are offered independently, or, as a combination.
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