Gynecologic Cancer: What Every Woman Should Know

New York Times Supplement Online

June 2003

Over 80,000 Women Newly Diagnosed Every Year

In the last year, we’ve all heard and read a great deal about potential threats to our health and survival — new threats like SARS and old threats like smallpox. What has not received as much media coverage is the persistent threat posed to women by gynecologic cancers.

Drescher Advocates for Better Healthcare

The best teachers are people with personal experience behind their lessons. That’s why we asked actress and gynecologic cancer survivor Fran Drescher, a recipient of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation’s Public Service Award, to share her thoughts.

Rising Death Rate for Endometrial Cancer

In recent news coverage regarding growing health threats, what hasn't made the headlines is the rising annual death toll in the U.S. from endometrial cancer.

Ovarian Cancer: Symptoms Should Not Be Ignored

Ovarian cancer accounts for more deaths in the U.S. each year than all other gynecologic cancers combined, over 135,000 in the last 10 years alone. In August of 2000, those statistics became very personal and painful for my family when my sister Johanna lost her life following a determined 3-1/2 year battle against the disease.

Survivors Find Fulfillment Advocating for Others

It’s hard to imagine any woman who doesn't dread the thought of hearing her doctor utter the words, “I’m sorry but you have a malignancy.” The women in this article were no different prior to being diagnosed with cancer. Today, however, all say their cancer experiences— and the advocacy activities they have pursued as a result — have provided new dimension and meaning to their lives.

The Connection Between Breast and Ovarian Cancer

Do you have a personal or family history of breast cancer? If so, that puts you at higher than average risk for ovarian cancer.

Cervical Cancer: Advances in Prevention Could Dramatically Reduce Deaths

Recent advances in screening for cervical cancer and progress in the development of a vaccine offer hope that cervical cancer can be eradicated.

Can You Lower Your Risk?

There are a number of steps women can take to reduce their risks for gynecologic cancers.

Women’s Hormones, Women’s Cancers

These days it seems impossible to read a magazine, watch TV or listen to the radio, without encountering some message about hormone therapy. What makes it confusing is that from day to day and week to week, the messages may be conflicting. One day you read that birth control pills cause cancer, the next that birth control pills prevent cancer.

When Should a Woman See a Gynecologic Oncologist?

I consider myself a lucky woman! I am a ten-year survivor of ovarian cancer. The fact that I can say this is, in large part, due to the fact that the physicians I saw with my acute symptoms referred me to the correct specialists for diagnosis, surgery and treatment.