“Gynecological cancers” are the forms of cancer that affect part of the reproductive organs (the ovaries , the neck, uterus, vagina or vulva). And, more often than not, the key to healing lies in early detection .
“But women still need to know how to recognize certain symptoms so that they don’t hesitate to make an appointment with their gynecologist,” explains Dr. Cynthia Gelb, from the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “However, the study that we have just carried out on 132 women aged 40 to 60 years, shows that these symptoms or these“ signs ”which indicate that something is dysfunctional, are still poorly understood by women. “
Female cancers: women do not listen to themselves enough
The participants in this study, all residents of large American cities (Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York) were given a list of 8 symptoms and the researchers asked them which would encourage them to make an appointment with the doctor. and which ones seemed to them rather to fall within the scope of “typically feminine little ailments”.
The bleeding between periods or changes in the appearance of the vulva are two signs that the participants in this study found worrisome enough to seek medical attention.
But rare are those who felt that the frequent urge to urinate, great fatigue, back pain or belly could be warning signs. “Why would they worry since most women face periods of of fatigue, have a stomach ache when they have their period or think that the urge to urinate is linked to pre-menopause, ”explains Dr Gelb. However, these are signs that all women should know. And who should push them to consult, because these are also symptoms of gynecological cancer. As Dr Gelb reminds us, last year 90,000 “female cancers” were diagnosed in the United States and 30,000 women died from it.
And you, when was your last appointment at the gynecologist?