Foundation for Women’s Cancer at Black Women’s Expo Atlanta to Support Education and Resources in the Fight Against Gyn Cancer

Every Five Minutes a Woman is Diagnosed with 1 of the 5 Gyn Cancers

WHAT: The Foundation for Women’s Cancer https://www.foundationforwomenscancer.org/movethemessage/ will be joining its partner, Heart & Soul Magazine https://www.heartandsoul.com/ at the Black Women’s Expo with a member of a gynecologic oncology care team to field questions and pass out information about gyn cancers as part of their #MovetheMessage campaign.

The campaign’s goal is to drive awareness of gyn cancers and identify educational needs, especially among historically marginalized communities – including Hispanic, Black, and rural communities – where there are gaps in access to education and care, through dissemination of free educational resources and encouraging everyone to help #MoveTheMessage.

Every 5 minutes, someone is diagnosed with 1 of the 5 gyn cancers – cervical, ovarian, uterine/endometrial, vaginal, or vulvar – totaling more than 109,000 Americans each year. Many of these people are not diagnosed until the late stages of their disease resulting in more 33,000 people dying each year from a gyn cancer.

WHERE: Black Women’s Expo, Heart & Soul Booth #623

Georgia International Convention Center 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA

 

 

WHO: Foundation for Women’s Cancer

Susan C. Modesitt, MD, FACOG, FACS, division director of Gynecologic Oncology and professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Gynecology Emory University School of Medicine

WHEN: Sunday, December 18, 2022 – 10:00am – 6:00pm

About Gyn Cancer

● What are gynecologic cancers?
Gynecologic cancers are the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells originating in the
female reproductive organs, including the cervix, ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, vagina and
vulva.

● What causes gynecologic cancers?
There are many factors that cause gynecologic cancers. Medical research has discovered that
some classes of genes, called oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, promote the growth of
cancer. The abnormal function of these genes can be acquired—e.g., through smoking, aging,
environmental influences—or inherited. Almost all cervical cancers and some cancers of the
vagina and vulva are caused by a virus known as HPV, or Human Papillomavirus.

● Can gynecologic cancers be prevented?
Screening and self-examinations conducted regularly can result in the detection of certain types
of gynecologic cancers in their earlier stages, when treatment is more likely to be successful and
a complete cure is a possibility. Diet, exercise and lifestyle choices play a significant role in the
prevention of cancer. Additionally, knowledge of family history can increase the chance of
prevention or early diagnosis by determining if someone may have a gene which makes them
susceptible to cancer.

● Who treats gynecologic cancers?
Gynecologic cancers should be treated by a specialist with advanced training and demonstrated
competence, such as a gynecologic oncologist. A gynecologic oncologist is a board-certified
obstetrician/gynecologist who has an additional three to four years of specialized training in
treating gynecologic cancers from an American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG)-
approved fellowship program. This subspecialty program provides training in the biology and
pathology of gynecologic cancers, as well as in all forms of treatment for these diseases,
including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and experimental treatments.

How are gynecologic cancers treated?
Gynecologic cancers are treated by using one or more of the following: surgery, radiation
therapy or chemotherapy. The choice of therapy(s) depends on the type and stage of the
cancer.

● Who is at risk?
Everyone with female reproductive organs is at risk for developing a gynecologic cancer. The
American Cancer Society estimates about 109,000 new cases diagnosed and approximately
33,000 deaths from gynecologic cancers in the U.S. each year.

 

 

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