Gynaecological cancers
On this page you'll find out more about gynaecological cancers, what to look out for and what to do if you're concerned.
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer can affect anyone who has ovaries. Symptoms to look out for include:
-
a swollen tummy or feeling bloated
-
pain or tenderness in your tummy or the area between your hips (pelvic pain)
-
no appetite or feeling full quickly after eating
-
an urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a cancer that's found anywhere in the cervix. Look out for:
-
vaginal bleeding that's unusual for you
-
heavy periods that are unusual for you
-
changes to your vaginal discharge
-
pain during sex
-
pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy
Vaginal cancer
Vaginal cancer is a very rare cancer but anyone with a vagina can get vaginal cancer. Symptoms include:
-
a lump in the vagina
-
ulcers and other skin changes in or around the vagina
-
bleeding from the vagina after the menopause
-
bleeding after sex or pain during sex
-
smelly or bloodstained vaginal discharge
-
bleeding between periods
-
an itch in your vagina that will not go away
-
pain when you pee, or needing to pee a lot
Vulval cancer
The vulva is the area around the opening of the vagina, including the inner and outer lips and the clitoris. Symptoms include:
-
a lump
-
a sore, growth (this may look and feel like a wart) or ulcer
-
bleeding from your vulva, or blood-stained vaginal discharge, that is not related to your periods
-
itching that does not get better
-
changes to your skin, such as red, white or dark patches (these may be harder to see on brown or black skin), or an area of thickened or raised skin
-
a mole that changes shape or colour
-
burning pain when you pee
Remember
These symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions.
Having them does not definitely mean you have cancer. But it's important to get them checked by a GP.
This is because if they're caused by cancer, finding it early means treatment is more likely to be successful.
21,000
women are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer every year in the UK
24
women are diagnosed each year in Guernsey and Alderney
5
deaths are recorded each year in Guernsey and Aldernder
All you need to know about
cervical screening
A cervical screening test (also known as a sample or smear) looks to see if you might be at greater risk of developing cervical cancer.
​
Approximately 8 in 10 women and people with a cervix attend their cervical screening, but we encourage even more to take part regularly when invited. Early detection of abnormal cells can save lives.
The free cervical screening programme
In Guernsey, the cervical screening programme offers FREE tests to women and individuals with a cervix aged 25 to 65.
​
From July 2025, younger women and people with a cervix (aged 25 to 49) with no recent history of HPV infection, who then test negative for HPV, will be at very low risk of cervical cancer over the next 10 years and will safely be invited by their GP for their free screening appointment at five-year intervals rather than three. This is in line with major clinical evidence and follows the UK National Screening Committee's recommendation.​
​
Those women and people with a cervix whose sample indicates the presence of HPV or who have a recent history of HPV, which causes nearly all cervical cancers, will continue to be invited to more frequent screenings to check whether HPV has cleared and if not, if any cell changes have developed. This approach is already used for women and those with a cervix aged 50 to 64 and follows robust evidence on how often those eligible need to be safely screened.
Feeling worried? You're not alone.
Call us on 07781434550 or send us an email at brighttightsgsy@gmail.com for support and advice.
Reducing the cancer risk
Stop smoking
Women who smoke are about twice as likely as non-smokers to get cervical cancer.
Eat healthily
including whole grains like wholegrain bread and cereals, beans, pulses, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Excercise
Make being physically active part of your everyday life.
Attend if invited for HPV vaccination
If you miss the HPV vaccine offered at school, it is available until your 25th birthday for:
-
Girls born after 1 September 1991
-
Boys born after 1 September 2006
A final
reminder to...
BE BRIGHT✨
Look out for these symptoms and get in touch with your healthcare provider if you are worried:
Bloating that doesn't go away Eating less or feeling full quickly​
Bleeding when you shouldn't be
Really tired and fatigued
Itching or soreness around the vulva
Going to urinate more frequently or urgently
Hurting in the abdomen or pelvis
Tell someone about these issues
