Besides looking out for breast cancer , as well as melanoma and other skin cancers , we also need to keep a watchful eye on other parts of our body. This year 82,000 American women will be diagnosed with gynecologic cancer . Knowing the warning signs could mean spotting a problem early when there's a better chance for cure.
Gynecologic cancer refers to any malignancy arising in a woman's reproductive organs .
The more common types are cancer of the uterus , cervix and ovary . Cancer of the Fallopian tube, vagina and vulva occur much less often. Each specific type of cancer has its own warning signs and risk factors, yet every woman is at risk. A woman's odds of developing one of these cancers is 1 in 20. Ovarian cancer is considered the most serious of the gynecologic cancers, by virtue of the high mortality rate.