Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- About the authors
- Preface
- Introduction to the second edition
- Abbreviations
- 1 Basic epidemiology
- 2 Basic pathology of gynaecological cancer
- 3 Preinvasive disease of the lower genital tract
- 4 Radiological assessment
- 5 Surgical principles
- 6 Role of laparoscopic surgery
- 7 Radiotherapy: principles and applications
- 8 Chemotherapy: principles and applications
- 9 Ovarian cancer standards of care
- 10 Endometrial cancer standards of care
- 11 Cervical cancer standards of care
- 12 Vulval cancer standards of care
- 13 Uncommon gynaecological cancers
- 14 Palliative care
- 15 Emergencies and treatment-related complications in gynaecological oncology
- Appendix 1 FIGO staging of gynaecological cancers
- Index
1 - Basic epidemiology
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2014
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- About the authors
- Preface
- Introduction to the second edition
- Abbreviations
- 1 Basic epidemiology
- 2 Basic pathology of gynaecological cancer
- 3 Preinvasive disease of the lower genital tract
- 4 Radiological assessment
- 5 Surgical principles
- 6 Role of laparoscopic surgery
- 7 Radiotherapy: principles and applications
- 8 Chemotherapy: principles and applications
- 9 Ovarian cancer standards of care
- 10 Endometrial cancer standards of care
- 11 Cervical cancer standards of care
- 12 Vulval cancer standards of care
- 13 Uncommon gynaecological cancers
- 14 Palliative care
- 15 Emergencies and treatment-related complications in gynaecological oncology
- Appendix 1 FIGO staging of gynaecological cancers
- Index
Summary
Information from epidemiological studies helps us to clarify the aetiology of gynaecological cancers. The mortality associated with cervical cancer has fallen over the second half of the last century in the UK. The link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer has been conclusively established. Most women with endometrial cancers develop abnormal vaginal bleeding as an early symptom and their tumours are diagnosed while confined to the uterus. Epidemiological studies have shown that pregnancy, breastfeeding and oral contraceptive use appear to be protective against the development of ovarian cancer. Apart from its rarity, squamous vulval cancer is a condition that largely affects the elderly: 80% of women with this condition are over 55 years of age. It is not surprising, therefore, that medical comorbidity is high in the vulval cancer population, and the link between HPV, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer is well known.
Keywords
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Gynaecological Oncology for the MRCOG and Beyond , pp. 1 - 14Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011