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Dr. Ritu Salani discussed Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting what patients with this disease should be aware of as well as prevention tactics.

Driving Awareness, Action and Empowerment During Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

The FDA approved several drugs throughout November for the treatment of diseases including leukemia and biliary tract cancer, in addition to a diagnostic for solid cancers.

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An expert explains how attitudes towards lymphedema risk have evolved over the years.

Woman putting on compression stockings on swollen feet affected by lymphedema condition
By Julia
Adobe Stock

Lymphedema Myths and Misconceptions, From Exercise to Blood Draws

Patients can benefit from clinical trials in gynecologic cancers, and knowing that they can advocate for themselves for potential consideration for study enrollment. 

Navigating Clinical Trials in Gynecologic Cancers

When I received a diagnosis of uterine cancer, I felt like I was falling into Wonderland, just like Alice.

Cancer Brought Me to Sharon in Wonderland

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As part of its Speaking Out video series, CURE spoke with Dr. Navya Nair, on behalf of the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, about genetics in women’s cancer.

Discussing the Importance of Genetic Counseling in Women’s Cancer

As part of its Speaking Out video series, CURE spoke with Dr. Navya Nair, on behalf of the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, about access to care in women’s cancer.

Addressing Barriers to Care, Improving Access in Women’s Cancers

As part of its Speaking Out video series, CURE spoke with Dr. Navya Nair, on behalf of the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, about survivorship in women’s cancer.

Transitioning from Active Care to Survivorship in Women’s Cancer

As part of its Speaking Out video series, CURE spoke with Dr. Navya Nair, on behalf of the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, about maintaining a healthy lifestyle in women’s cancer.

Expert Offers Advice on Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle Before, During and After Cancer Treatment

Results from the SIENDO trial examining the effects of Xpovio as a frontline maintenance therapy in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer highlighted a significant survival benefit.

Xpovio Has ‘Potential to Transform’ Treatment of Advanced Endometrial Cancer

In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Pamela Hegg details her journey with a rare form of endometrial cancer and explains how she’s able to stay positive through multiple recurrences.

‘I’m Not Always Happy, But I’m Happy Right Now’ with Endometrial Cancer

A three-time cancer survivor discusses the importance of genetic testing, listening to your body and teaching family members about your experiences to potentially protect them from future cancers.

Having the Ball in Your Court Helps You Fight Cancer

Understanding the signs and symptoms of cancer of the uterine lining By Kathryn E. Vinson, MS, CCRC In the world of cancer, there are some

Stage Four Endometrial Cancer

“Although more evidence is needed before changing clinical practice, these are highly promising results, suggesting that (Bavencio) could prevent patients with chemo-resistant disease from the severe toxicity of chemotherapy combinations.”

Bavencio May Be Effective in Preventing Relapse in Women With Gestational Trophoblastic Tumors

It is hard enough dealing with cancer as a survivor, but what happens when one of your parents is diagnosed with cancer too?

When A Parent Is Diagnosed With Cancer

A patient turned advocate underscores the importance of education, especially for those facing a rare cancer.
 

Get Schooled on Vulvar Cancer

Symptoms that mimic fibroids make diagnosing uterine sarcoma a rare and confounding cancer.

What is Uterine Sarcoma?

The symptoms of stage 4 cervical cancer can be difficult to differentiate from other diseases, so if you experience these symptoms, please see your gynecologist soon

Stage 4 Cervical Cancer

"Cancer is a journey &mdash; many use that expression. Well, I do not like this 'journey,' but I adore my tour guide, Ann Puglisi, RN, OCN, an oncology nurse at Kellogg Cancer Center in Evanston, Illinois,” wrote Lori Jaffee.

Hope Personified: My Tour Guide on My Path to Being a Cancer Survivor

Cancer survivor Joanne Edwards talks with CURE® about the profound gratitude she felt when she received a ‘Caring and Sharing’ basket from a charity organization, and shares how their generosity made her want to pay it forward to other survivors.

'Caring and Sharing' Baskets: A Few of Your Favorite Things During Radiation and Chemotherapy Treatment

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New Issue Alert: CURE Women's Cancers

Nearly 90 percent of women experienced sexual dysfunction; however, providers were not openly communicating about this side effect, according to survey results.

Patients With Gynecologic Cancers Want to Discuss Sexual Health

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FDA Approves Age Expansion of HPV Vaccine

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Stage Four Cervical Cancer

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A Survivor and Her Running Shoes

The application is seeking approval for GARDASIL 9 to be used in women and men aged 27 to 45 years for the prevention of certain cancers and diseases caused by the nine human papillomavirus (HPV) types covered by the vaccine.

FDA Grants Priority Review to GARDASIL 9 for Expanded Age Indication

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Women with vulvar cancer who test positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) may have improved survival compared with HPV-negative patients, according to the results of a new study.

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Gynecologic

 – also known as uterine cancer, beings in the endometrium – which is the inner lining of the uterus in a woman. Cancer cells in the endometrium can travel to the vagina or lungs. The uterus is the pear-shaped organ low in a woman’s belly that holds the baby when she is pregnant. Based on how the cells look, there are many kinds of endometrial cancer – and some are very rare.

 new bleeding, spotting, or other discharge from the vagina pain and/or lump in the area; or unintended weight loss. Endometrial (Uterine) cancer affects more than 640,000 plus women in the United States. Yet, there is not a standard screening test that determines the possibility or catches it. If however, if any of these symptoms are occurring please schedule an appointment with your OBGYN. If you are experiencing bleeding between periods, abnormal or watery, or perhaps blood-tinged discharge from the vagina.

 – This treatment is designed for the abnormal bleeding of the uterus caused by a benign or non-cancerous tumor. It is not however a sufficient enough surgical procedure for a cancerous uterus that has grown into the deeper tissues of the uterus and will remain a problem unless other steps are taken.

 – the survival rate for a woman with uterine or endometrial cancer is 82% at the 5-year mark. There are many risk factors to consider so a regular pap smear or cervical cancer screening is recommended.

 – The awareness ribbon for Endometrial or Uterine cancer is a peach ribbon.

Many of the signs and symptoms mentioned above could be caused by other medical conditions. It is vital to always be evaluated by your medical physician and be evaluated regularly with a Pap test to ensure a healthy and long life free of the risk of a endometrial cancer diagnosis.

Cancer Horizons strives to gather information about endometrial (uterine) cancer and present it in plain and understandable terms.

Bladder Cancer: Overview

Bladder cancer is also known as urothelial carcinoma. Urothelial cells line the urinary tract, including the urethra, bladder, and ureters and renal pelvis in the kidneys. These urothelial or transitional cells are in contact with urine. Bladder cancer happens when those cells in the bladder start to grow out of control.

Smoking and being exposed to secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing bladder cancer. In addition, people exposed to occupational or environmental chemicals may have a higher risk of developing bladder cancer. White people are twice as likely to develop bladder cancer as are Black people or Hispanic people, and older age is another risk factor. Health history also matters, with chronic bladder inflammation, such as urinary tract infections or kidney stones, as well as a personal or family history of bladder cancer, associated with risk of the disease.

Many people are unaware of the common signs of bladder cancer, such as blood in the urine, known as hematuria. If blood in the urine can be seen, this is called gross hematuria. When a physician runs a urinalysis test as part of a routine checkup, tiny amounts of blood may be detected. This is microscopic hematuria. Any blood seen in the urine should be checked by a physician. Irritation when urinating, urgency and frequency are other warning signs. These signs may also be from other causes, such as a urinary tract infection, kidney stones or aging.

Bladder Cancer: Living with Cancer

Bladder cancer has a high rate of recurrence, which implies the need for regular surveillance with cystoscopy over the course of a patient’s lifetime. For some patients, the new normal after bladder removal surgery is adjusting to life with a urinary diversion. A patient should always feel comfortable talking with their health care team about any issues or questions. If the team can’t help, they can usually find someone who can.

Bladder Cancer: Types of Disease

Doctors usually describe and treat bladder cancer by how far it has grown into the bladder wall.

NMIBC (non-muscle invasive bladder cancer) is cancer that remains in the urothelial cells that line the bladder.

MIBC (muscle-invasive bladder cancer) is cancer that has grown into the deeper layers of bladder muscle.

If bladder cancer has spread to other parts of the body outside the urinary tract, it is advanced disease, or metastatic.

Types of bladder cancer include urothelial carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma and sarcoma.

Urothelial carcinoma, the most common type of bladder cancer, is also known as transitional cell carcinoma. Transitional cell carcinoma begins in the part of the kidney, called the renal pelvis, where urine collects before moving to the bladder.

Squamous cell carcinoma comprises 1% to 2% of bladder cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. Most squamous cell carcinomas of the bladder are invasive.

Adenocarcinoma, which are also mostly invasive, occur in only 1% of bladder cancers.

Small cell carcinoma, which occurs in less than 1% of bladder cancers, start in the neuroendocrine cells. This subtype of the disease can grow quickly.

Sarcoma of the bladder is rare, and start in the muscle cells of the organ.

Bladder Cancer: Diagnosis

A urologist will make a bladder cancer diagnosis. Urologists use a cystoscope to examine the lining of the bladder and the tube that carries urine out of the body (urethra).

If bladder cancer is diagnosed, the doctor needs to know the stage, or extent, of the disease to plan the best treatment. Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has invaded the bladder wall or spread beyond that, and, if so, to what parts of the body. Grade refers to how abnormal the cancer cells look and how many cells are multiplying. A higher grade means the cells are more uneven and are multiplying more. Knowing the grade can help your doctor predict how quickly the cancer will grow and spread.

Bladder Cancer: Treatment

When bladder cancer is classified as NMIBC, surgery to remove the tumor is often the first step. A transurethral resection of the bladder tumor uses a special instrument inserted through the urethra to remove the tumor. If the tumor is low risk/grade and has not invaded the muscle wall of the bladder, it may not require more treatment. Unfortunately, bladder cancer has a high rate of recurrence so most of those who receive diagnoses must return to their urologist at regular intervals for surveillance using cystoscopy to see if the tumors return.

If the tumor cells appear aggressive under the microscope and the pathologist determines that the cancer is high risk/grade, it is more likely to return or worsen. In these cases, further treatment to keep the cancer from returning or worsening is required. Most often, patients with high-grade NMIBC receive intravesical (inside the bladder) treatments. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is an early form of immunotherapy that uses a weakened form of bacteria. When these bacteria are put into the bladder, the immune system goes on alert. It responds by killing cancer cells on the bladder lining. Though BCG is very effective, it doesn’t work for all tumors. If BCG doesn’t work, there are other options such as mitomycin C, an antibiotic that helps fight tumors.

When bladder cancer grows into the deeper layers of the bladder (MIBC), it is more difficult to treat. In many cases, a urologist may suggest radial cystectomy, which is surgery to remove your bladder. Removing the bladder also involves removing lymph nodes around the organ. As part of the surgery, it will be necessary to create a urinary diversion, a new way for urine to leave your body.

Systemic chemotherapy is medicine that treats cancer throughout the whole body. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is chemotherapy patients get before bladder removal surgery. Clinical trials have shown that cisplatin chemotherapy before bladder removal improves survival for patients with MIBC because it helps kill bladder cancer cells that may be outside the bladder. Adjuvant chemotherapy is the chemotherapy patients get after surgery.

Recently approved targeted therapies can block the growth and spread of cancer. They focus on stopping the cancer-driving activity caused by specific genetic mutations that are found in some bladder cancers.

Gynecologic Cancer

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