Let's get rid of the shame and stigma surrounding gynaecological cancers

Finding reliable, relevant information about cancer feels like a minefield, particularly women’s gynaecological cancers, where shame or stigma often previously shrouded them with a lack of discussion, awareness or openness.

For cervical cancer, we’ve come a long way in this regard, with awareness and knowledge increasing exponentially in recent years. There are other gynaecological cancers, however, that remain less known about, with further work to be done in public education.

Gynaecological cancer refer to any cancer of the female reproductive system which includes the uterus (womb), the ovaries, the cervix (the neck of the womb), the vulva (the outer part of the female genitals) or the vagina.

The Irish Cancer Society provides invaluable support to all who are navigating a cancer journey, and their families. In particular, they have supported the development of a relatively new resource called ‘This is GO’ to provide gynaecological and breast cancer support for patients and their families. This programme is part of the Irish Cancer Society’s Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), the aim of which is to improve health and wellbeing for women impacted by cancer who are dealing with the side effects and consequences of treatment. It was established when The Living Well Cancer Programme based in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) met for the first time.

Phase 1 of This is GO was launched in September, 2021 as a personalised online resource for women impacted by cervical cancer. It’s also been designed for those who have a partner in your life, to provide support.

Healthcare providers working in the area are also encouraged to use it to support their practice in relation to those who are newly diagnosed, receiving treatment, in surveillance or living well with and beyond cancer.

During 2022, the remaining four gynaecological cancers - Ovarian, Uterine, Vulval and Vaginal - were launched, as well as the addition of a genetic pathway for those impacted by BRCA and Lynch Syndrome.

The benefits of this resource are (1) it’s made for the patient through public involvement, (2) it’s populated by leading health experts in the field, (3) it’s easy to use and navigate with very clear instructions and signposting, and (4) it’s tailored to meet your needs through the use of information that is current, reputable and relevant.

A really important piece of the This is GO toolkit is the two-week downloadable symptom chart, a visual way to track the symptoms that you may be experiencing, which may help to discern where the issue lies and what information to bring to your GP or consultant when you meet with them. It lists the main symptoms of cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulval cancer and clearly indicates where any overlap of symptoms might occur.

For example, pelvic pain or pressure could be pelvic or uterine cancer, while abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge might feature across a number of the cancers.

Users can create their own profile on the website, which allows them to then tailor the content they see, and to bookmark the relevant resources for easier future access. They include latest research studies and ‘decode the science’ for readers, to give peace of mind that they’re being treated based on most up to date evidence.

Information around gynaecological cancer is imperative to ensure early detection, as well as supported care and informed cancer journeys. Knowing the places to find this information is so important. Chat to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns around symptoms that you might be experiencing to investigate further. Timely intervention is key.