'On the rise:' Cancers of female reproductive system are common and can be guarded against

Many of the 2 million American patients expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2024 will learn the disease has attacked their female reproductive system.

"The main ones are uterine cancer or endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and vulvar and vaginal cancer," said Dr. Aine E. Clements, who specializes in gynecological oncology for OhioHealth. "The most common cancer that I take care of is uterine cancer, and that is on the rise."

There's even a cancer that attacks the placenta, which Clements occasionally sees.

She and thousands of other doctors nationwide are asking everyone to reduce their cancer risks and get up to date on their screenings starting this February, which is Cancer Prevention Month.

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Human papilloma vaccine helps prevent gynecologic cancers

Cancers can be hereditary, but a clean family history does not preclude anyone from susceptibility.

"A new mutation can start in a family through an individual, or environmental risk factors from being exposed to something," Clements said. "There's so much we don't understand about why cancers form — just because there's no family history doesn't mean that you can't develop a gynecologic cancer."

Doctors recommend that patients who have female reproductive systems receive a HPV vaccination.

"The human papilloma virus is the cause of most cervical, vaginal and large majority of vulvar cancers as well," Clements said. "Getting vaccinated really helps prevent those cancers."

The vaccine is approved for patients ages 9 to 45.

"If you're under the age of 15, you just get it twice," Clements said. "If you're over the age of 15, you need it three times, and then you're done. The younger you get it, the better."

Patients are encouraged to speak with a healthcare provider about whether the vaccine is right for them.

"Family doctor, pediatrician, OBGYN," Clements said. "Most pharmacies have it available."

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Precancers are easier to treat than cancer

Early detection allows doctors to discover mutations before they actually become cancer, a condition literally called "precancer."

"You can get a cancer on your skin anywhere, or even a precancer on your skin anywhere," Clements said. "It's the same thing on the vulvar skin: you can get a precancer or cancer there."

And those precancerous areas are much easier to treat before they develop into full-blown cancer.

"If you catch it as a precancer, you remove it and then you can watch carefully after that," Clements said. "Once you've had one, you're at risk to develop other ones."

Waiting can make the concern worse.

"With vulvar cancer, we're removing a much larger area," Clements said. "If we catch it as a precancer, we can remove a smaller area, or even use a laser so we're not having to remove skin."

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'Have a doctor that you can talk to'

Precancers of all types are generally found early during screenings. Everyone knows words like colonoscopy, Pap test and mammogram — every form of cancer has a screening, and they're all important.

"Make sure that you're getting the appropriate screening tests," Clements said. "We all get busy in life and sometimes we don't necessarily prioritize that, but have a doctor that you can talk to."

Abnormal body functions of all types should be discussed with doctors, especially when it comes to women's health.

"I see a lot of patients who have heavy periods and have kind of accepted that as normal for them," Clements said. "If your periods are really heavy, painful, and if you're having to miss work, or if they're just becoming unmanageable, that's something that you should talk to your doctor about. That's not normal. It doesn't necessarily mean that you have cancer, but it's something that should be looked into further."

'They might feel embarrassed to mention it'

Healthcare providers understand that those conversations sometimes feel impossible to begin.

"A lot of people just aren't comfortable talking about that area, so they try to downplay their symptoms," Clements said. "They might feel embarrassed to mention it."

New growths and other skin marks can generally wait two weeks — if they're still there after 14 days, then doctors say it's time to take action.

"Even if it's something you're embarrassed about, if you can find a way that you can feel comfortable opening that conversation with your doctor or your provider," Clements said. "That's what we do: we take care of people who have problems in that area. We're comfortable talking about it, so it's OK to bring up those conversations. And, you know, I just would encourage people to bring it up with their provider if they're noticing a problem there."

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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Cancers of female reproductive systems can be caught before diagnosis