Among Canadian women, breast cancer continues to be the most frequently diagnosed cancer with an expected 23,400 new cases diagnosed in 2011, nearly twice as many as lung cancer. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality among women, and is expected to take the lives of 5,100 Canadian women in 2011.

Signs and Symptoms
If any of these signs or symptoms are detected, a doctor should be seen as soon as possible:

• A lump in the breast or under the arm area
• An inverted nipple
• Crusting or reddening of the nipple, or patchy areas on the nipple
• Discharge or bleeding from the nipple
• Changes to the shape and size of the breast
• Changes to the skin of the breast
• Changes in skin temperature of the breast

Screening
Experts agree that early detection is the key to cancer survival. Use the following guidelines to develop a screening schedule that is right for you:

• Mammography (once every two years recommended for women ages 50 to 69)
• Clinical examination (once every two years recommended for women over 40)
• Self-examination is another important aspect of early detection.

Family history can play a role in whether an individual will develop breast cancer. If any immediate family members have been diagnosed with breast cancer before menopause, be sure to alert your physician. He/she may adjust your screening schedule accordingly.

Risk Factors
No one thing causes breast cancer, but there are a few common factors that seem to increase risk of developing it:

• Family history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Early menstruation
• Late menopause
• Having taken hormone replacement therapy for more than five years
• Never having given birth
• Giving birth for the first time over the age of 30
• Dense breast tissue
• An increased number of non-cancerous cells in the breast
• Radiation treatment to the chest area before age 30
• Being over the age of 50
• Obesity, alcohol consumption and the use of birth control pills may also slightly increase risk.

Treatment
Breast cancer treatment and care today is so customized that a specialized treatment plan is tailored to the needs of the individual patient. Breast cancer treatment may include:

• A lumpectomy removes the tumour while conserving most of the breast.
• A mastectomy removes the entire breast and sometimes the lymph nodes.
• Radiation is used to treat many stages of breast cancer and frequently used after a lumpectomy.
• Biological therapy helps the body's immune system fight cancer.
• Herceptin is used to treat human epidermal growth factor positive (HER2) tumours.

2,600 new cases of ovarian cancer are expected to be diagnosed in Canadian women in 2011, with an estimated 1,750 deaths attributed to the disease.

Signs and Symptoms
If any of these signs or symptoms are detected, a doctor should be seen as soon as possible:  

• Persistent and/or vague abdominal discomfort such as lower abdominal or pelvic pressure, pain, bloating or swelling
• Change in bowel habits, a feeling that the bowel has not emptied, feeling full after a light meal
• Indigestion, flatulence, upset stomach, nausea
• Fatigue, lower back pain, leg pain
• Frequent or urgent urination
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding, menstrual disorders, pain during intercourse

Screening
Currently there is not an effective method to screen for ovarian cancer. Studies are investigating the effectiveness of transvaginal ultrasound as a screening method, but have found that it generally leads to a number of false positives, leading to unnecessary surgery.

Risk Factors
No one thing causes ovarian cancer, but there are a few common factors that seem to increase risk of developing it:

• Personal or family history of ovarian, breast, colon, uterine or pancreatic cancers
• Use of hormone replacement therapy (especially estrogen-only therapy)
• Being over the age of 50
• Never having been pregnant
• Other possible risk factors being studied include the use of fertility drugs, certain types of diet, smoking, the use of talcum powder on the genitals, and a combination of early menstruation and late menopause

Treatment
Ovarian cancer treatment and care today is tailored to the needs of the individual patient. Ovarian cancer treatment may include:

• Surgery (including removal of ovaries, fallopian tubes or uterus)
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation

1,300 new cases of cervical cancer are expected to be diagnosed in Canadian women in 2011, with an estimated 350 deaths attributed to the disease.

Signs and Symptoms
If any of these signs or symptoms are detected, a doctor should be seen as soon as possible:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding, bleeding between regular menstrual periods or bleeding after sex
• Pain during intercourse
• Longer and heavier menstrual periods, bleeding after menopause, more discharge from vagina than normal
• Lower back or pelvic pain

Screening
Sexually active women should have a Pap test every one to three years. DNA tests for HPV have been shown to be more accurate than Pap tests in women over 30; however, this test is not available in all provinces, is not part of regular screening and is used in addition to, not as a replacement for, regular Pap testing.

Risk Factors
No one thing causes cervical cancer, but there are a few common factors that seem to increase risk of developing it:

• Infection of the cervix with human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Early sexual activity
• Having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners
• Smoking cigarettes
• Having a weak immune system
• Prolonged use of birth control pills
• Giving birth to many children
• Previous use of DES (Diethylstilbestrol) or having a mother who used it

Treatment
Cervical cancer treatment and care today is tailored to the needs of the individual patient. Cervical cancer treatment may include:

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Vaccine therapy

4,700 new cases of uterine cancer are expected to be diagnosed in Canadian women in 2011, with an estimated 750 deaths attributed to the disease.

Signs and Symptoms

• Odd vaginal bleeding or discharge
• Pain during intercourse
• Pelvic pain
• Change in bladder and bowel habits
• Weight loss

Screening
The Pap test can occasionally detect early instances of the disease, but most cases are not found through this test. Diagnostic tests include ultrasound, endoscopy, biopsy and blood tests.

Risk Factors

• Being over the age of 50
• Being Caucasian
• Receiving hormone replacement therapy consisting of estrogen without progesterone
• Prior pelvic radiation
• Unusual menstrual history
• Late menopause
• Early first menstruation
• Diabetes
• Infertility
• Use of the drug Tamoxifen

Treatment
Uterine cancer treatment and care today is tailored to the needs of the individual patient. Uterine cancer treatment may include:

• Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of ovaries and Fallopian tubes)
• Pelvic exenteration
• Removal of lymph nodes
• Radiation
• Hormonal therapy
• Chemotherapy

Sign and Symptoms :
If any of these signs or symptoms are detected, a doctor should be seen as soon as possible:

• Vaginal bleeding (after intercourse or menopause)
• A noticeable mass in the vagina
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Pain during intercourse
• Pain when urinating
• Constipation
• Constant pelvic pain

Screenings
There is no early detection for vaginal cancer; however, sometimes doctors are able to detect vaginal changes during pap tests and pelvic exams. It is suggested that a woman get pap tests and pelvic exams every or every other year. These screenings should begin after becoming sexually active or at the age of 21, whichever comes first.

With normal results, women 30 and over can receive these tests and exams every two to three years. Women over 70 who have had normal screening for at least 10 years and are not at risk for vaginal cancer may choose to stop receiving pap tests.

Risk Factors
Most women who develop this disease have no risk factors. The following risk factors have been found to slightly elevate your chances of getting vaginal cancer:

• Being 60 years of age or older
• A persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
• Cervical or vulvar cancer
• Smoking
• Vaginal adenosis

Treatment
Treatment can be either local or systemic—meaning controlling or destroying cancer cells in one area (local) or throughout the body (systemic). These are the main vaginal cancer treatments:

• Surgery
• Radiation
• Chemotherapy

Signs and Symptoms:

Vulvar itching that doesn’t improve

A change in vulvar skin color or feel

Urination pain

Red, white, or wart-like sore/bump on the vulva

Enlarged groin glands

A new mole, or existing mole that now has an irregular color or borders

Screenings
Vulvar cancer may be found during a normal routine visit, even without symptoms.

If your doctor has reason to believe you may have vulvar cancer, the following are ways that this type of cancer may be detected: a pelvic exam, pap test, human papillomavirus (HPV) test, colposcopy of the vulva and/or biopsy.

Risk Factors
You may have no risk factors and still get vulvar cancer. Or, you may have one or more the following risk factors and not have it. Doctors are not sure what causes vulvar cancer, but here are some possible risk factors:

• Being 50 years of age or older
• HPV infection
• Smoking
• Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN)
• Lichen scierosus
• Family history of melanoma
• Chronic inflammation and infection of the vulva
• HIV

Treatment
The type of treatment for vulvar cancer depends on each patient. Surgery and radiation are the most common forms of treatment, sometimes chemotherapy is performed as well.