Gynaec Oncology

A diagnosis of cancer linked to a BRCA or Lynch syndrome mutation can change family planning overnight. Treatment may need to start soon. Surgery may affect the ovaries, uterus, testes, or hormones. Risk-reducing procedures may be recommended years earlier than expected. In the middle of all this, many people are asked to make fertility decisions while still trying to absorb the diagnosis itself. Good fertility counselling does not promise an easy path. It gives people time-s

The stage at which a gynaecologic malignancy is diagnosed is not only a tumour biology story. It is also a health-system story. When access to specialists is delayed, fragmented, or geographically difficult, patients are more likely to enter the cancer pathway later, with fewer treatment options and a narrower chance of cure. The specialist-access gradient described in the referenced article brings this issue into sharper focus. Its central finding is clinically intuitive but

A single gene result rarely tells the whole story of cancer risk. Still, when research links a DNA repair gene such as NBN with ovarian cancer, it deserves careful attention. The finding may affect how clinicians assess inherited risk, how families discuss cancer history, and how people with ovaries understand symptoms that are too often missed. The key point is not that NBN “causes” ovarian cancer in a simple or certain way. The stronger message is that research suggests an

A cancer diagnosis is rarely shaped by biology alone. For many patients, the stage at diagnosis also reflects where they live, how far they must travel, whether screening is nearby, and how quickly a referral can move from primary care to specialist treatment. This is especially relevant for cancers of the cervix, ovary, endometrium, vulva, and vagina. Early-stage disease often allows more treatment choices, less extensive surgery, better scope for fertility-sparing care in s

A diagnosis of an adult granulosa cell tumour can feel confusing because it is rare, slow-growing, and very different from the ovarian cancers most people have heard about. For someone with an early-stage tumour, one of the most sensitive treatment questions is this: can surgery remove the cancer while preserving fertility and hormonal function? For selected patients, the answer may be yes. OVARIAN-SPARING SURGERY can be a reasonable option in early-stage adult granulosa cell

Hereditary cancer care is no longer a specialised add-on in gynaecologic oncology. For many people with ovarian, endometrial, fallopian tube, peritoneal, or related cancers, it can shape treatment choices, guide prevention for relatives, and help health systems find risk earlier. Yet access remains uneven. A patient in one country may receive genetic counselling and testing soon after diagnosis, while another with the same cancer type may never be offered testing at all. The

Recurrence after loop electrosurgical excision procedure is a clinical signal that follow-up systems, pathology risk markers, and patient-level factors are as important as the excision itself. At Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, where cervical cancer prevention services serve a large referral population in northern Tanzania, this issue carries added weight: many patients present with advanced risk profiles, and loss to follow-up can turn a treatable precursor lesion into

Ovarian cancer often enters a woman’s life quietly. A swollen abdomen is blamed on acidity. Early fullness after meals is linked to stress. Irregular periods are dismissed as perimenopause. For many midlife women, that silence is the danger. A three-decade age-period-cohort view of ovarian cancer helps explain why the story is changing. It looks beyond one year’s numbers and asks three connected questions. How does risk change with age? How do diagnosis and treatment change a

A cure is no longer the only question in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia care. For many patients, the next question arrives quickly: Will ovarian function recover, and is pregnancy still possible after treatment? That is why longitudinal anti-Müllerian hormone, or AMH, data matter. AMH is not a perfect fertility test, but it gives a useful window into ovarian reserve. When measured repeatedly before, during, and after chemotherapy, it can show a pattern that a single bloo

A patient can finish surgery and other curative treatment for vulvar cancer, return to follow-up, and still face the hardest question in cancer care: what happens if the disease comes back? That question sits at the centre of the population-based cohort study titled Incidence, survival, and symptoms at recurrence among vulvar cancer patients treated with curative intent. The study matters because recurrence is not a single event with one meaning. A small local recurrence on t

Human papillomavirus (HPV) screening plays a crucial role in preventing cervical cancer by identifying high-risk infections early. However, the accuracy and effectiveness of screening programs can be affected by a phenomenon known as enrichment bias. This bias can distort the interpretation of screening results, leading to potential mismanagement of patient care. This post explores the concept of enrichment bias in HPV screening, focusing on the distinction between accumulate

Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a central role in the development of cervical cancer, a disease that remains a significant health challenge worldwide. Not all HPV infections carry the same risk, and individual host factors further influence the likelihood of progression to cancer. This blog post explores how host characteristics and specific HPV genotypes affect cervical cancer risk, highlighting the importance of personalized screening strategies. Recent research findings w

Endometriosis and ovarian cancer are significant concerns in women's health, with growing evidence suggesting a connection between these two conditions. Understanding this link is crucial for improving diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes. This article reviews the epidemiological data, molecular mechanisms, and clinical strategies that shed light on how endometriosis may influence ovarian cancer risk.

Cervical cancer remains a significant health challenge worldwide, with early-stage disease often managed through radical surgery. However, recent advances in understanding tumor biology and patient outcomes have sparked interest in de-escalating surgical treatment for select patients with FIGO Stage I cervical cancer. This approach aims to reduce treatment-related morbidity without compromising cancer control. This article explores the rationale behind de-escalation, criteria

Cancer treatments have improved survival rates dramatically, but many female survivors face challenges related to fertility. Understanding how cancer and its treatment affect reproductive lifespan is crucial for survivors and healthcare providers planning for family building. One key tool in this assessment is the measurement of Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH), a hormone that reflects ovarian reserve and fertility potential. This post explores how AMH helps evaluate fertility in

Menopause brings significant changes to a woman’s body, and for gynecologic cancer survivors, these changes can be even more complex. The FIGO Committee recently released a position paper addressing menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and postmenopausal care specifically for this group. Their findings highlight the importance of personalized care that balances benefits and risks while supporting survivors’ quality of life. This post explores the key insights from the paper and o

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Rwanda and many low-resource settings. Early detection through regular screening is critical to reducing mortality, yet participation rates remain low. Mobile phone penetration in Rwanda offers a promising channel to reach women with health messages. This blog post examines a pilot study that explored the feasibility of using SMS (Short Message Service) to recruit women for cervical cancer screeni

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) represents a group of rare tumors that arise from abnormal growth of trophoblastic tissue, which normally forms part of the placenta during pregnancy. Accurate diagnosis and effective management of GTN depend heavily on proper staging. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system plays a crucial role in this process. It helps clinicians classify the disease, predict prognosis, and guide treatment dec

Low-risk cervical cancer presents a unique challenge in balancing effective treatment with minimizing patient morbidity. Surgical intervention remains a cornerstone of management, but the choice of surgical approach can significantly influence oncologic outcomes. Recent studies have shed light on how different techniques affect survival rates, recurrence, and overall patient prognosis. This post explores key findings from a pivotal study analyzing the association between surg

Staying current with clinical guidelines and research is essential for effective practice in obstetrics and gynecology. The rapid pace of medical advancements requires a reliable source that consolidates updates and recommendations. This clinical OB-GYN blog aims to provide concise, practical information to support decision-making and patient care.