Gynaecology Cancer Centre

Cervical cancer accounts for just 2.5% of all cancers diagnosed. Roughly 90% of cervical cancers start in the surface cells that line the cervix. Cervical cancer often begins in the cells of the transformation zone (where squamous and glandular cells meet). At diagnosis, the cancer is often just within the cervix, but it may spread to tissues around the cervix (the vagina or lymph glands) or other parts of the body.

More information about cervical cancers

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Ovarian cancer is a disease where some of the cells in one or both ovaries start to grow abnormally and develop into cancer. Ovarian cancer accounts for approximately 3% of all cancers in women. The causes of ovarian cancer are not well understood, but there are some factors which increase the chance of developing this disease.

• Age: there is a higher incidence of the disease in women over 50 and in women who have stopped menstruating (been through menopause). The risk increases with age.
• Child-bearing history: women who have not had children or were unable to have children may be slightly more at risk
• Hormonal factors: early puberty or late menopause, or using oestrogen-only hormone replacement therapy
• Family history: 5-10% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer may have an inherited faulty gene in their family.

There are two genetic conditions known to be associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

• Hereditary breast/ovarian cancer
• Lynch syndrome.

Lynch syndrome is also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). The risk of developing ovarian cancer increases with the number of affected first degree relatives (parents, siblings children).

Ashkenazi Jewish women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer are also considered to be at a higher risk of the disease.

Women considered to be at an increased risk of developing the disease are monitored regularly and some may elect to have preventative removal of their ovaries.

More information about ovarian cancers

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Cancer of the uterus is also called cancer of the womb, uterine cancer, endometrial cancer or cancer of the lining of the womb. The lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. Because cancer of the uterus usually starts in this lining, the cancer is sometimes called ‘endometrial cancer'.

The exact cause of uterine cancer is unknown. Some factors may increase the risk of uterine cancer:

• Age: more common in women over the age of 50
• Endometrial hyperplasia
• Menopause never having children or infertility
• Being overweight high blood pressure and diabetes
• A family history of uterine, breast or bowel cancer.
• Taking oestrogen replacement without progesterone
• Tamoxifen or anastrozole for treatment of breast cancer
• Uterine cancer is not caused by sexual activity and is not contagious

Many women who have known risk factors never have cancer and many women who have no risk factors may develop the disease.

More information about uterine / endometrial cancer 

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Vaginal and vulval cancers are very confronting for women to deal with. This is partly because of the location of the cancer and issues related to a woman’s sexuality/feminity/body image and partly because it is a difficult cancer to discuss with family and friends. The treating team are very mindful of this and will make every effort to support you medically, surgically and psychologically at this difficult time. Ongoing support will be provided by follow up appointments and phone calls, as well as information about support groups available in the community. For women who live alone or have limited assistance at home, arrangements can be made for discharge from hospital to a rehabilitation facility until you are more fully recovered from surgery.

Vaginal cancer is a cancer in the tissues of the vagina. It can also be called cancer of the vagina. There are two main types of vaginal cancer: those that start in the vagina itself (primary vaginal cancer), and those that spread into the vagina from another part of the body (secondary vaginal cancer).

More information about vaginal cancers

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Vulval cancer is a cancer that arises from the tissues of the vulva. Cancer of the vulva is rare. About 280 Australian women, or about two women in every 100,000, are newly diagnosed with vulval cancer each year. Vulval cancer accounts for less than one per cent of all cancers in Australian women.

More information about Vulval cancers

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Cervical cancer accounts for just 2.5% of all cancers diagnosed. Roughly 90% of cervical cancers start in the surface cells that line the cervix. Cervical cancer often begins in the cells of the transformation zone (where squamous and glandular cells meet). At diagnosis, the cancer is often just within the cervix, but it may spread to tissues around the cervix (the vagina or lymph glands) or other parts of the body.

More information about cervical cancers

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Ovarian cancer is a disease where some of the cells in one or both ovaries start to grow abnormally and develop into cancer. Ovarian cancer accounts for approximately 3% of all cancers in women. The causes of ovarian cancer are not well understood, but there are some factors which increase the chance of developing this disease.

• Age: there is a higher incidence of the disease in women over 50 and in women who have stopped menstruating (been through menopause). The risk increases with age.
• Child-bearing history: Women who have not had children or were unable to have children may be slightly more at risk
• Hormonal factors: early puberty or late menopause, or using oestrogen-only hormone replacement therapy
• Family history: 5-10% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer may have an inherited faulty gene in their family.

There are two genetic conditions known to be associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

• Hereditary breast/ovarian cancer
• Lynch syndrome.

Lynch syndrome is also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). The risk of developing ovarian cancer increases with the number of affected first degree relatives (parents, siblings children).

Ashkenazi Jewish women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer are also considered to be at a higher risk of the disease.

Women considered to be at an increased risk of developing the disease are monitored regularly and some may elect to have preventative removal of their ovaries.

More information about ovarian cancers

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Cancer of the uterus is also called cancer of the womb, uterine cancer, endometrial cancer or cancer of the lining of the womb. The lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. Because cancer of the uterus usually starts in this lining, the cancer is sometimes called ‘endometrial cancer'.

The exact cause of uterine cancer is unknown. Some factors may increase the risk of uterine cancer:

• Age: more common in women over the age of 50
• Endometrial hyperplasia
• Menopause Never having children or infertility
• Being overweight High blood pressure and diabetes
• A family history of uterine, breast or bowel cancer.
• Taking oestrogen replacement without progesterone
• Tamoxifen or anastrozole for treatment of breast cancer
• Uterine cancer is not caused by sexual activity and is not contagious.

Many women who have known risk factors never have cancer and many women who have no risk factors may develop the disease.

More information about uterine / endometrial cancer 

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Vaginal and vulval cancers are very confronting for women to deal with. This is partly because of the location of the cancer and issues related to a woman’s sexuality/feminity/body image and partly because it is a difficult cancer to discuss with family and friends. The treating team are very mindful of this and will make every effort to support you medically, surgically and psychologically at this difficult time. Ongoing support will be provided by follow up appointments and phone calls, as well as information about support groups available in the community. For women who live alone or have limited assistance at home, arrangements can be made for discharge from hospital to a rehabilitation facility until you are more fully recovered from surgery.

Vaginal cancer is a cancer in the tissues of the vagina. It can also be called cancer of the vagina. There are two main types of vaginal cancer: those that start in the vagina itself (primary vaginal cancer), and those that spread into the vagina from another part of the body (secondary vaginal cancer).

More information about vaginal cancers

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Vulval cancer is a cancer that arises from the tissues of the vulva. Cancer of the vulva is rare. About 280 Australian women, or about two women in every 100,000, are newly diagnosed with vulval cancer each year. Vulval cancer accounts for less than one per cent of all cancers in Australian women.

More information about Vulval cancers

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Cervical cancer accounts for just 2.5% of all cancers diagnosed. Roughly 90% of cervical cancers start in the surface cells that line the cervix. Cervical cancer often begins in the cells of the transformation zone (where squamous and glandular cells meet). At diagnosis, the cancer is often just within the cervix, but it may spread to tissues around the cervix (the vagina or lymph glands) or other parts of the body.

More information about cervical cancers

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Ovarian cancer is a disease where some of the cells in one or both ovaries start to grow abnormally and develop into cancer. Ovarian cancer accounts for approximately 3% of all cancers in women. The causes of ovarian cancer are not well understood, but there are some factors which increase the chance of developing this disease.

• Age: there is a higher incidence of the disease in women over 50 and in women who have stopped menstruating (been through menopause). The risk increases with age.
• Child-bearing history: Women who have not had children or were unable to have children may be slightly more at risk
• Hormonal factors: early puberty or late menopause, or using oestrogen-only hormone replacement therapy
• Family history: 5-10% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer may have an inherited faulty gene in their family.

There are two genetic conditions known to be associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

• Hereditary breast/ovarian cancer
• Lynch syndrome.

Lynch syndrome is also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). The risk of developing ovarian cancer increases with the number of affected first degree relatives (parents, siblings children).

Ashkenazi Jewish women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer are also considered to be at a higher risk of the disease.

Women considered to be at an increased risk of developing the disease are monitored regularly and some may elect to have preventative removal of their ovaries.

More information about ovarian cancers

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Cancer of the uterus is also called cancer of the womb, uterine cancer, endometrial cancer or cancer of the lining of the womb. The lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. Because cancer of the uterus usually starts in this lining, the cancer is sometimes called ‘endometrial cancer'.

The exact cause of uterine cancer is unknown. Some factors may increase the risk of uterine cancer:

• Age: more common in women over the age of 50
• Endometrial hyperplasia
• Menopause Never having children or infertility
• Being overweight High blood pressure and diabetes
• A family history of uterine, breast or bowel cancer.
• Taking oestrogen replacement without progesterone
• Tamoxifen or anastrozole for treatment of breast cancer
• Uterine cancer is not caused by sexual activity and is not contagious.

Many women who have known risk factors never have cancer and many women who have no risk factors may develop the disease.

More information about uterine / endometrial cancer 

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Vaginal and vulval cancers are very confronting for women to deal with. This is partly because of the location of the cancer and issues related to a woman’s sexuality/feminity/body image and partly because it is a difficult cancer to discuss with family and friends. The treating team are very mindful of this and will make every effort to support you medically, surgically and psychologically at this difficult time. Ongoing support will be provided by follow up appointments and phone calls, as well as information about support groups available in the community. For women who live alone or have limited assistance at home, arrangements can be made for discharge from hospital to a rehabilitation facility until you are more fully recovered from surgery.

Vaginal cancer is a cancer in the tissues of the vagina. It can also be called cancer of the vagina. There are two main types of vaginal cancer: those that start in the vagina itself (primary vaginal cancer), and those that spread into the vagina from another part of the body (secondary vaginal cancer).

More information about vaginal cancers

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.

Vulval cancer is a cancer that arises from the tissues of the vulva. Cancer of the vulva is rare. About 280 Australian women, or about two women in every 100,000, are newly diagnosed with vulval cancer each year. Vulval cancer accounts for less than one per cent of all cancers in Australian women.

More information about Vulval cancers

Download the Understanding Cervical Cancer Guide (PDF) published by Cancer Council Victoria or visit Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation.