Rare Ovarian and Gynecologic Cancers

Happy Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month! 

This month we will be chatting about Rare Ovarian Cancers and Rare Gynecologic Cancers. We hope you will join us on Wednesday, September 9, at 9pm ET (8pm CT, 6pm PT). 

Did you know that many gynecologic cancers are considered rare diseases in the US and globally? 

There will be an estimated 21,750 women diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in the US in 2020. Eighty-five to ninety percent of all ovarian cancers are epithelial ovarian cancer. Sub-types include mucinous, endometrioid, clear cell, and undifferentiated. Beyond epithelial, cancerous germ cell tumors make up about 1-2% of ovarian cancers and sex cord-stromal tumors account for about 1% of ovarian cancers. (https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/ovarian-cancer/types)

Primary Peritoneal Cancer, which develops in the lining of the abdomen and pelvis, along with Fallopian Tube Cancer are treated like ovarian cancer and are both considered rare cancers. 

About 6 of every million women in the US are diagnosed with Uterine Leiomysarcoma. (https://www.curesarcoma.org/patient-resources/sarcoma-subtypes/uterine-leiomyosarcoma/)

Gestational Trophoblastic Disease accounts for less than 1% of all gynecologic cancers. (https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/gestational-trophoblastic-disease/statistics)

In 2020 almost 6,120 women are expected to be diagnosed with Vulvar Cancer in the US (https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/vulvar-cancer/statistics) while 6,230 women are expected to be  diagnosed with Vaginal Cancer. (https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/vaginal-cancer/statistics) 

Additional Source: https://seer.cancer.gov

Join us as we discuss the symptoms and treatment of these rare cancers.

T1: What are the rare ovarian cancers types? How do they differ from the more common type? How do treatment and symptoms differ? 

T2: Two other rare gyn cancers are vulvar and vaginal cancer. How are they diagnosed and how significant is the role of surgery? Any special treatments available for those cancers?

T3: Last month we talked about endometrial cancer. How does uterine sarcoma differ from other cancers of the uterus?

T4: In the past we have talked about ovarian cancer developing in the fallopian tubes yet there is also a fallopian tube cancer. Does it differ from ovarian? Do treatments differ?

T5: What is Gestational Trophoblastic Disease? Are there symptoms? What are the best treatments?

T6: Primary peritoneal cancer is treated like ovarian cancer. How do they differ?

T7: What are the challenges of having a rare type of cancer? What are some tips and resources when dealing with a rare cancer? 

We are also happy to be celebrating our 7th anniversary as a Twitter Chat Community. Christina and I appreciate the support promoting and participating in our chats through the years. 

See you on Wednesday!

Dee