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It is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month.  But why do we need to have more awareness of gynecologic cancers?  Well, there are many reasons, here are three.

1. We need to be reminded of the early warning signs of these types of cancers. Not just for ourselves, but for all the women in our lives.

You could someday be the one who tells a friend she needs to see a doctor for a particular symptom she is having. You could be the one who contributes to saving her life because she caught her cancer early.

2. We need to understand that even as we go about our days untouched by cancer, there are many other women who are not as fortunate…And we need to have compassion and empathy for those women.

3. Knowledge is power…And we do not have to be powerless in the face of gynecologic cancers.

I hope that this post will address each of these aspects of awareness.

From After Cancer, Now What – Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month…

According to the American Cancer Society, each year approximately 82,550 women in the United States are diagnosed with cancers affecting the reproductive organs.

We don’t often hear cancers described like this but gynecologic cancer is diagnosed every 7 minutes. It includes cancers of the cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina, uterus and vulva.

From Penn Medicine – Six Warning Signs of Gynecologic Cancer…

The six warning signs for gynecologic cancer are:

1. Unusual bleeding or discharge from the vagina
2. A sore in the genital area that doesn’t heal
3. Pain or pressure in the pelvic area
4. A change in bowel or bladder habits that persists
5. Frequent or constant indigestion or bloating of the abdomen
6. A thickening or lump in the pelvic region that either causes pain or can be seen and felt

If you experience any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor right away.

There are many women blogging about Gynecological Cancers, here are just a few.

Accidental Mother is blogging about her experience with cervical cancer…

• Cervical Cancer: A Diary – Part 1
• Cervical Cancer: A Diary – Part 2
• Cervical Cancer: A Diary – Part 3
• Cervical Cancer: A Diary – Part 4

From Experience Project – Has Anyone Here Been Diagnosed With Cancer of the Uterus?

I had Uterine cancer. They discovered it right as my cells were changing, and it had not spread beyond my Uterus. I no longer have a Uterus or cervix, but I am cancer free, and have been 10+ years. Uterine cancer, if it has not spread is one of the better cancers to get, (as far as cancers go), because with a hysterectomy the probability that you can be completely free of cancer is very high. The hard part is dealing with the fact that you can no longer have children, and for me at the time of my diagnosis, in my early 30’s, I didn’t, and still don’t have any children yet in my life. That was very tough for me.

From Women’s E-News – Screening Raises Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates…

Jenn Sommermann never suspected that cancer lurked inside of her.

“When I was 42, I was running triathlons and in the best shape of my life,” said Sommermann, 45, of Freeport, N.Y. “But one day, I felt a lump in my belly and realized I’d been experiencing some bloating, weight gain and fatigue. To my surprise–and my shock–my doctor diagnosed me with advanced-stage ovarian cancer, which required an oophorectomy to remove my ovaries, a hysterectomy to remove my uterus and six months of grueling chemotherapy.”

There is an online community of people who blog about their cancer – It’s called Blog For A Cure (cancer sucks). Here are a few of the blogs by women with uterine and cervical cancer.

Women with Uterine Cancer…

• Debby’s Cancer Blog
• Corgigal’s Cancer Blog
• Muff’s Cancer Blog
• Maryellen’s Cancer Blog
• Melody’s Cancer Blog

Women with Cervical Cancer…

• Beege’s Cancer Blog
• Patty’s Cancer Blog
• Tinkerbell’s Cancer Blog
• Couponbarbies’s Cancer Blog
• Christa’s Cancer Blog

From Mandy Van Devon at The WIP – India’s Most Common Cancer is Preventable…

Taking the lives of 75,000 women each year, cervical cancer is the leading cause of death for women in India. This number accounts for a third of all cancers that affect women in India and a fifth of the total cervical cancer related deaths worldwide. With 132,000 new reported cases in India annually, this disease is having catastrophic effects on the developing world.

Informative Links on Gynecological Cancer:

• Seven Warning Signs of Gynecologic Cancer
• Women’s Cancer Network – Gynecologic Cancer Foundation
• From The American Cancer Society – Gynecological Cancer Awareness
• From WebMD – Endometrial Cancer, Ovarian Cancer and Cervical Cancer
• Mayo Clinic – Endometrial Cancer
• National Cancer Institute – Endometrial Cancer

Other Women Blogging Gynecological Cancers:

• The Cancer Blog — Endometrial Cancer
• Are You There Cancer? It’s Me. Jennie.
• Women of Teal
• The WIP — Weighing the Risks & Benefits of Hormone Replacement
• Hyster Sisters – Minimally invasive, vaginal or robotic hysterectomy with endometrial cancer???
• Stay at Home Moms Answers – Cervical Cancer
• Finding BonggaMom – A Pearl of Wisdom

Earlier in the month I blogged about Ovarian Cancer Awareness and earlier this week I re-posted on my personal experience with Ovarian Cancer by making a Birthday Page at the American Cancer Society.