Every woman carries within her a quiet strength, a rhythm that beats through her body and life. Yet sometimes, that rhythm is interrupted by an unexpected diagnosis: a gynecological cancer. These cancers, which begin in a woman’s reproductive organs, may be silent at first — but their impact resonates deeply across families, communities, and futures.

Gynecological cancers include five main types:

• 1. Cervical Cancer

  • How common? ~660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths each year worldwide. It is the #4 most common cancer in women, but in many low-income countries, it is #1 cause of cancer death.

  • Cause: Almost always linked to persistent infection with high-risk HPV types (especially HPV 16 & 18).

  • Risk factors:

    • Early sexual activity, multiple partners, smoking, HIV infection (weakens immunity).

    • Lack of Pap/HPV screening.

  • Symptoms:

    • Often silent at first.

    • Abnormal vaginal bleeding (between periods, after sex, after menopause).

    • Foul-smelling discharge, pelvic pain.

  • Prevention:

    • HPV vaccination (girls and boys, ideally 9–14 years old).

    • Regular screening: Pap smears every 3 years from age 21, or HPV testing every 5 years from 30.

  • Treatment: Surgery in early stages; radiation and chemotherapy for advanced disease; new immunotherapies show promise.

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  2. Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer

  • How common? ~420,000 new cases/year worldwide. Most common gynecological cancer in high-income countries.

  • Cause: Unopposed estrogen (too much estrogen without progesterone balance) drives abnormal cell growth in the uterine lining.

  • Risk factors:

    • Obesity, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

    • Never being pregnant, late menopause.

    • Lynch syndrome (genetic risk).

  • Symptoms:

    • Red flag: abnormal vaginal bleeding (especially after menopause).

    • Pelvic pain or discharge.

  • Prevention:

    • Maintaining healthy weight.

    • Birth control pills (combined estrogen-progestin) lower risk.

    • Genetic counseling if strong family history.

  • Treatment: Hysterectomy (surgery to remove uterus) is most common; may include radiation, chemotherapy, or hormonal therapy.

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  3. Ovarian Cancer

  • How common? ~313,000 new cases and ~207,000 deaths/year.

  • Problem: Often called the “silent killer” — symptoms are vague and there is no effective screening test yet.

  • Risk factors:

    • BRCA1/2 mutations, Lynch syndrome.

    • Family history of ovarian or breast cancer.

    • Older age, never having children, endometriosis.

  • Symptoms: (usually late)

    • Bloating, feeling full quickly.

    • Pelvic/abdominal pain.

    • Urinary urgency or frequency.

  • Prevention:

    • Risk-reducing surgery (removal of ovaries) for women with BRCA mutations.

    • Oral contraceptives may lower risk.

  • Treatment: Surgery plus chemotherapy; targeted therapies (PARP inhibitors) and immunotherapy are improving survival.

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  4. Vaginal Cancer

  • How common? Rare (~18,000 new cases/year worldwide).

  • Causes: Often HPV-related.

  • Risk factors: HPV infection, older age, history of cervical cancer.

  • Symptoms: Abnormal bleeding, pain during sex, vaginal mass.

  • Prevention: HPV vaccine, regular Pap tests (which can also pick up vaginal precancers).

  • Treatment: Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy depending on stage.

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  5. Vulvar Cancer

  • How common? Rare (~45,000 cases/year worldwide).

  • Causes: HPV infection and/or long-standing inflammatory conditions (like lichen sclerosus).

  • Symptoms:

    • Persistent itching or pain.

    • A lump, sore, or wart-like growth on vulva.

    • Bleeding not related to periods.

  • Prevention: HPV vaccination, regular check-ups if you have chronic skin conditions.

  • Treatment: Surgery (removal of tumor), sometimes radiation/chemo.

    

One of the most beautiful truths in medicine is that early detection saves lives. Regular Pap tests, HPV vaccinations, pelvic exams, and attention to unusual symptoms can change the course of these diseases. A simple screening can mean the difference between late-stage discovery and a future reclaimed.

• Around 1.5 million women worldwide are diagnosed with gynecological cancers each year.

• Nearly 700,000 women die annually from these cancers.

• Cervical cancer remains one of the top killers of women in low- and middle-income countries, where Pap smears and HPV vaccination are not widely available.

• Ovarian cancer has the highest death rate of all gynecological cancers because we still lack an effective screening test.

• Endometrial cancer is on the rise globally, driven by obesity, diabetes, and aging populations.

  

• HPV vaccination is one of the strongest weapons we have. Girls and boys between ages 9–14 should be vaccinated. It can prevent most cervical cancers.

• Regular cervical screening (Pap smear or HPV test) should start at age 21. Don’t skip it — even if you feel healthy.

• Pay attention to symptoms:

  • Unusual vaginal bleeding (between periods, after sex, after menopause)

  • Persistent bloating, pelvic pain, or changes in bowel/bladder habits

  • Painful sex or itching/sores that don’t heal
    If something feels off, see your doctor. Don’t wait.

• Family history matters. If your mother, sister, or grandmother had ovarian, breast, or uterine cancer, ask about genetic counseling and testing.

• In wealthy countries, women are living longer after diagnosis because they have access to screening, early surgery, and new treatments like immunotherapy and targeted drugs.

• In poorer regions, many women still die young from cervical cancer because they were never screened, never vaccinated, or reached the hospital too late.

Don’t wait. Get your Pap test. Talk to your gynecologist. Take the HPV vaccine if you can, and give it to your children. Notice changes in your body and take them seriously.

You may think you don’t have time, but the truth is: taking this time is what gives you more time.

From one human being to another: protect your health. Your life matters too much to risk silence.

This week’s puzzle is based on previous edition (read it here)

Prostate Cancer Awareness

The silent cancer with no early symptoms. Learn when it appears, what PSA tests really mean, survival rates, and why early detection can save lives.

https://paragraph.com

— so if you haven’t read it yet, you might want to catch up first. The answers are hidden in plain sight.

Your story matters. Your dreams matter. Whether you’re in treatment, in remission, or living after cancer — if you have a dream that could bring healing, joy, or strength, we’d love to hear it. Share your dream with us, and together, we’ll do our best to make it real.

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1. Zhu Y, Yu Q, Peng H, et al. Global burden of gynaecological cancers in 2022. Front Public Health. 2024. PMC11327849

2. World Health Organization (WHO). Cervical cancer. Fact sheet. 2023. WHO Fact Sheet

3. American Cancer Society. Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines. 2024. Cancer.org Guidelines

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines and Policy Implications. Prev Chronic Dis. 2025;22:E16. CDC PCD Journal

5. U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Cervical Cancer Screening. Healthy People 2030 Evidence-Based Resources. ODPHP Resource

6. National Cancer Institute.