Cancerous gynecologic abnormalities are life-threatening illnesses characterized by uncontrollable enlargement and rapid spread of malignant cells developing in an organ or a part of a women’s reproductive system.

The seven major gynecologic cancers are cervical, tubal, ovarian, uterine, peritoneal, vaginal, and vulvar.

Cervical Cancer

A woman’s cervix connects the vaginal opening to the uterus. Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the cervix. The symptoms of vaginal cancer include the following:

Bleeding even if not in the menstrual period. Also, bleeding after intercourse and bleeding even after menopause.

Vaginal discharge that is heavy, thick, and with color

Pain in the pelvic area

Pain during intercourse

Fallopian Tube or Tubal Cancer

The fallopian tubes connect the uterus to the ovaries. Cancer that originates here is called fallopian tube cancer, also known as tubal cancer. The symptoms of fallopian tube cancer are a mass in the pelvic area, pain and pressure in the abdomen, vaginal discharge that looks white or pinkish, and heavy bleeding even after menopause and in between menstrual cycles.

Ovarian Cancer

The ovaries in a woman’s reproductive system produce the eggs also called ova. The cancer that originates in the ovaries is called ovarian cancer. Symptoms of ovarian cancer are sudden weight gain or loss, weight gain at the abdomen, bloating of the abdomen, chronic fatigue, back pain, and pain during sexual intercourse.

Uterine Cancer

A woman’s uterus, which is also called the womb, is the organ where the baby develops until birth. Cancer that originates from this part of a woman’s reproductive system is called uterine cancer. The most common type of uterine cancer is called endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer usually originates in the endometrial glands found in the inner wall of the uterine cavity. The symptoms of endometrial cancer are pain in the pelvis, painful sexual intercourse, and pain during urination.

Peritoneal Cancer

Peritoneum is the thin, fragile sheet that outlines the wall of the abdomen covering the rectum, bladder, and uterus. The cancer originating in the peritoneum is called peritoneal cancer. The symptoms of peritoneal cancer are discomfort and pain in the abdomen, lack of appetite, feeling of fullness even after just a light meal, constipation, nausea, bleeding, and weight gain or loss.

Vaginal Cancer

The vagina, also called the birth canal, is an elastic and narrow channel that is 2 to 4 inches long extending from outside a woman’s body to the cervix. The cancer that originates from the vagina is called vaginal cancer. The symptoms are vaginal discharge, bleeding of the vagina, lesion in the vagina, and pain during sexual intercourse.

Vulvar Cancer

The vulva is found in the external genitalia of a woman. The parts of the vulva are Bartholin’s glands, clitoris, and labia. Cancer that originates from the vulva is called vulvar cancer. The symptoms of vulvar cancer include persistent itching of the vulva, vulvar pain that cannot be explained, vulvar bleeding, mass or lump in the vulva, a sore in the vulva that does not heal, and chronic burning of the vulva.