Prof. Dr. Gamze Gököz Doğu, Faculty Member of the Department of Medical Oncology at PAU Hospitals, shared the following information in her statement:
“Gynecological cancers that develop in the female reproductive organs include cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancers, as well as the rarely seen fallopian tube cancer. Everyone with female reproductive organs carries a risk of developing these cancers. Globally, three of the ten most common cancers in women are gynecological cancers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 15,000 women in Turkey are diagnosed with gynecological cancer each year, and around 4,500 women lose their lives due to these cancers. Family history, genetic predisposition, obesity, advanced age, and HPV infection are significant risk factors for the development of gynecological cancers. More than ninety percent of cervical cancers are associated with HPV infection. Vaccination against HPV is the most effective way to prevent this infection and related cancers. Regular screening tests are also very important in cervical cancer. In Turkey, women aged 30-65 receive a free HPV-DNA test every five years. In addition, avoiding tobacco products, practicing safe sexual relations, and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits are effective in prevention.”

Prof. Dr. Gamze Gököz Doğu: “Pay Attention to Symptoms”

Emphasizing that pain in the lower abdomen and pelvis, pain during sexual intercourse, foul-smelling or bloody vaginal discharge, and bleeding between periods, after sexual intercourse, or after menopause should not be ignored, Prof. Dr. Gamze Gököz Doğu continued:
“These symptoms must be evaluated by specialist physicians. In line with the World Health Organization’s goal to eliminate cervical cancer as a global health problem by 2030, the aim is to vaccinate ninety percent of girls up to age 15 with the HPV vaccine, screen seventy percent of women aged 35 and 45 with the HPV-DNA test, and treat ninety percent of women with cancer or pre-cancerous lesions. Early diagnosis in gynecological cancers is vital for treatment success. Do not skip your regular check-ups. Remember, knowledge is power.”