Gynaecological Cancers
Gynaecological cancers account for about 10 % of all cancers in New Zealand and about 10 % of all deaths from cancer. They can affect women of all ages, from teenagers to centarians.
Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial Cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in New Zealand and the developed world. The number of new cases a year is increasing rapidly as our populations are getting older and more overweight. It can also be inherited. It most frequently affects women after the menopause, but increasingly affects younger women too. It usually presents with abnormal bleeding. Often the symptoms occur early and the cancer can be cured with a hysterectomy; however this is not the case for about 20 % of women whose cancers can prove very hard to cure. Current research is looking at fertility sparing options for younger women still keen to have a family; Genetic predisposition and screening; new surgical options; therapies for advanced cancers and lifestyle changes that can help.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer is the second most common gynaecological cancer in New Zealand. Currently affecting about 300 women a year it is also becoming more common. There are three major types of ovarian cancer. One of the rarer types is germ cell tumours that commonly affect teenagers and women in their 20s. The other rare types are stromal tumours.More common is Epithelial ovarian Cancer ( EOC).. Unfortunately the presenting symptoms of abdominal bloating and weight gain are very common and usually benign and nothing to worry about. However for a few women it represents a tumour and often is has spread widely through the abdomen before it is discovered. At this stage it is very difficult to cure. Internationally there is a huge amount of research looking at a wide range of topics; Genetic predisposition; methods of early detection, chemotherapy options, surgical options and prevention.
Cervical Cancer
Nearly all cervical cancer is caused by the HPV virus. In developed countries thanks to the introduction of the screening programme there has been a dramatic drop in the incidence of cervix cancers. It is hoped that as the uptake of the HPV vaccine becomes more widespread the rate will drop even further. Sadly however there are still about 175 new cases in New Zealand a year and although many are cured, too many are still incurable. The tumours often affect women of child bearing age and may even occur during pregnancy. Treatment aimed at curing the women may adversely affect the pregnancy and fertility options, which is hugely traumatic. In the developing world Cervical Cancer is the most common cancer that affects women, with a very high mortality rate. Research is looking at prevention; screening programmes; fertility sparing options; treatment of advanced disease and ways of managing the consequences of treatment.
Vulval and Vaginal Cancer
These cancers are less common, but because of where they occur can have a huge impact on the women suffering from them. These tumours frequently affect older women, often as a consequence of a skin condition called Lichen Sclerosis. However they are increasingly common in younger women as they can be related to HPV like cervical cancer. Eventually as our HPV vaccination rate increases these cancers in younger women should be less common. Tumours on the vulva or vagina often present late as women may be very embarrassed by the location of the mass. Treatment obviously can be very disfiguring and have some very unpleasant side effects. Research is often focussed on ways of prevention; early detection and reducing the impact of surgery
Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
Gestational trophoblastic diseases(GTD) are a rare group of diseases resulting from a mistake in fertilisation between eggs and sperm that leads to the growth of abnormal placental type tissue in women of childbearing age. They are also often called molar pregnancies, and occur between 1: 200 to 1:1000 pregnancies . Women commonly present with what is thought to be a normal pregnancy but early ultrasound scans show GTD. There is usually not a viable pregnancy but in some cases GTD can occur following a normal pregnancy. The majority of cases are managed with surgical removal of the tissue form the uterus. In around 1 in 20 cases the abnormal tissue can invade into the uterus or spread to other parts of the body and is becomes a cancer. These cases require treatment with chemotherapy but are highly curable. Research in this area is often around improving the chemotherapy and toxicity and outcomes for this group disease.
Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial Cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in New Zealand and the developed world. The number of new cases a year is increasing rapidly as our populations are getting older and more overweight. It can also be inherited. It most frequently affects women after the menopause, but increasingly affects younger women too. It usually presents with abnormal bleeding. Often the symptoms occur early and the cancer can be cured with a hysterectomy; however this is not the case for about 20 % of women whose cancers can prove very hard to cure. Current research is looking at fertility sparing options for younger women still keen to have a family; Genetic predisposition and screening; new surgical options; therapies for advanced cancers and lifestyle changes that can help.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer is the second most common gynaecological cancer in New Zealand. Currently affecting about 300 women a year it is also becoming more common. There are three major types of ovarian cancer. One of the rarer types is germ cell tumours that commonly affect teenagers and women in their 20s. The other rare types are stromal tumours.More common is Epithelial ovarian Cancer ( EOC).. Unfortunately the presenting symptoms of abdominal bloating and weight gain are very common and usually benign and nothing to worry about. However for a few women it represents a tumour and often is has spread widely through the abdomen before it is discovered. At this stage it is very difficult to cure. Internationally there is a huge amount of research looking at a wide range of topics; Genetic predisposition; methods of early detection, chemotherapy options, surgical options and prevention.
Cervical Cancer
Nearly all cervical cancer is caused by the HPV virus. In developed countries thanks to the introduction of the screening programme there has been a dramatic drop in the incidence of cervix cancers. It is hoped that as the uptake of the HPV vaccine becomes more widespread the rate will drop even further. Sadly however there are still about 175 new cases in New Zealand a year and although many are cured, too many are still incurable. The tumours often affect women of child bearing age and may even occur during pregnancy. Treatment aimed at curing the women may adversely affect the pregnancy and fertility options, which is hugely traumatic. In the developing world Cervical Cancer is the most common cancer that affects women, with a very high mortality rate. Research is looking at prevention; screening programmes; fertility sparing options; treatment of advanced disease and ways of managing the consequences of treatment.
Vulval and Vaginal Cancer
These cancers are less common, but because of where they occur can have a huge impact on the women suffering from them. These tumours frequently affect older women, often as a consequence of a skin condition called Lichen Sclerosis. However they are increasingly common in younger women as they can be related to HPV like cervical cancer. Eventually as our HPV vaccination rate increases these cancers in younger women should be less common. Tumours on the vulva or vagina often present late as women may be very embarrassed by the location of the mass. Treatment obviously can be very disfiguring and have some very unpleasant side effects. Research is often focussed on ways of prevention; early detection and reducing the impact of surgery
Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
Gestational trophoblastic diseases(GTD) are a rare group of diseases resulting from a mistake in fertilisation between eggs and sperm that leads to the growth of abnormal placental type tissue in women of childbearing age. They are also often called molar pregnancies, and occur between 1: 200 to 1:1000 pregnancies . Women commonly present with what is thought to be a normal pregnancy but early ultrasound scans show GTD. There is usually not a viable pregnancy but in some cases GTD can occur following a normal pregnancy. The majority of cases are managed with surgical removal of the tissue form the uterus. In around 1 in 20 cases the abnormal tissue can invade into the uterus or spread to other parts of the body and is becomes a cancer. These cases require treatment with chemotherapy but are highly curable. Research in this area is often around improving the chemotherapy and toxicity and outcomes for this group disease.