Types of cancers

Ovarian cancer is the second most common cancer of the female reproductive organs. It accounts for 30% of all gynecologic cancers and 53% of the deaths in this group. The high death rate associated with ovarian cancer is due to the fact that most women are not diagnosed until the cancer has progressed to an advanced stage. The average age at diagnosis is 63 years. Serous carcinomas are the most common type of ovarian cancer. Other common types of ovarian cancer include mucinous tumors and endometroid tumors.

Fallopian tube cancers, as primary cancers, are very rare. They frequently spread widely within the abdominal cavity. Although often diagnosed earlier than ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer produces similar symptoms and originates from similar cell types as ovarian cancer.

Uterine cancer, also called endometrial cancer , is the most common gynecologic cancer and accounts for 46% of the cases. Endometrial cancer primarily affects postmenopausal women, however, 25% of cases are in premenopausal women. There are two types of endometrial cancer: estrogen-dependent and non-estrogen-dependent. Estrogen-dependent cancers are usually comprised of well-differentiated cells and are associated with a good outcome and a long survival time. Non-estrogen-dependent cancers are usually made up of poorly differentiated cells and are invasive and associated with a poor prognosis. Uterine tumors are most frequently endometroid tumors, usually adenocarcinomas. Clear-cell carcinomas, papillary serous, sarcomas, and mixed tumors also occur.

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer of the female reproductive tract. It accounts for 17% of the gynecologic cancers. Although cervical cancer can affect any adult woman, there are peaks of occurrence around the ages of 37 years and 62 years. Between 60% and 80% of the cases of cervical cancer are squamous cell carcinomas with the remainder being adenocarcinomas. Clear-cell carcinoma, serous carcinoma, and glassy-cell carcinoma are less frequent cervical cancers. Cervical cancer is very strongly associated with human papilloma virus .

Vaginal cancer is rare and accounts for just 3% of the gynecologic cancers. It most often strikes women in their sixties. Greater than 90% of the vaginal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Adenocarcinoma, melanoma , and sarcoma account for the remaining cases. There is an association between vaginal cancer and human papilloma virus.

Vulvar cancer is rare and accounts for 4% of the gynecologic cancers. It most often strikes women in their sixties. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type and melanoma is the second most common type of vulvar cancer. Other types of vulvar cancer include basal cell carcinoma , Paget's disease, and adenocarcinomas (arising from the Bartholin's, Skene's, or sweat glands). There is an association between vulvar cancer and human papilloma virus.

GYNECOLOGIC CANCERS
Cancer type	Occurs in	Tumor types
Endometrial cancer	Uterus	Endometrioid tumors Clear-cell carcinomas Papillary serous Sarcomas Mixed tumors
Fallopian tube cancer	Fallopian tubes, but frequently spreads	Serous carcinomas Mucinous tumors Endometrioid tumors
Cervical cancer	Cervix	Squamous cell carcinomas Adenocarcinomas Clear-cell carcinoma Serous carcinoma Glassy-cell carcinoma
Ovarian cancer	Ovaries	Serous carcinomas Mucinous tumors Endometrioid tumors
Vaginal cancer	Vagina	Squamous cell carcinoma Adenocarcinoma Melanoma Sarcoma
Vulvar cancer	Vulva	Squamous cell carcinomas Melanoma Basal cell carcinoma Paget's disease Adenocarcinomas

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