The Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) understands the importance of bringing awareness to all gynecologic cancers — cervical, ovarian, uterine/ endometrial, vaginal and vulvar cancer. The month of September has been established as Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month (GCAM), with a goal of reaching more and more people each year.
These resources give you the tools to share knowledge about gynecologic cancer symptoms, risk factors, prevention and early detection — because every five minutes, someone will be diagnosed with one of these cancers.
View the information on this page in the Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month (GCAM) toolkit, available for download here.
Take action to help end gynecologic cancers.
Download the fact sheets below for specific information on each cancer type including symptoms, risk factors and risk reduction.
Social Media Toolkit
Use the hashtags #GynecologicCancerAwarenessMonth, #GCAM, #MoveTheMessage and #Move4Her .
Tag FWC on your preferred social media channel in the post!
Gynecologic oncologists are medical doctors with specialized training in treating gynecologic cancers. If cervical, ovarian, uterine/endometrial cancer, vaginal, or vulvar cancer is suspected or diagnosed, seek care from a gynecologic oncologist.
The (tagged) Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) offers free, downloadable educational materials , many of them available in three languages: English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. These guides can help you learn about the five gynecologic cancers and related topics such as postoperative pain management, financial resources for cancer patients, survivorship and more.
Copy and paste the following text to your personal social media channels.
#CervicalCancer symptoms include abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding, bleeding after vaginal sex, vaginal odor and pelvic or abdominal pain. Any of these signs should be checked out by a gynecologist.
bit.ly/fwc-cervical-cancer
Most cases of #CervicalCancer are now preventable. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended as early as age 9 and is approved for patients up to age 45. bit.ly/fwc-cervical-cancer
The best way to find #CervicalCancer early is to have regular Pap tests and HPV tests at intervals recommended by your health care provider. bit.ly/fwc-cervical-cancer
There is currently no good screening for #OvarianCancer. See a gynecologist if you experience any of these symptoms for more than a few weeks: bloating, urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency), pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly. bit.ly/fwc-ovarian-cancer
#OvarianCancer early detection tips: See a doctor if you have symptoms. Schedule regular check-ups, including pelvic exams. Know your family history and ask your doctor about genetic testing. bit.ly/fwc-ovarian-cancer
Transvaginal ultrasounds and CA 125 blood tests may be offered to screen those with a high risk of #OvarianCancer due to an inherited genetic syndrome such as Lynch syndrome, BRCA gene mutations or a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer. youtu.be/yQOSoo1MltU
#EndometrialCancer, also known as #UterineCancer, is the most common gynecologic cancer. Getting to and staying at a healthy weight is one way to lower your risk of endometrial cancer. bit.ly/fwc-endo-cancer
Early detection improves the chances #EndometrialCancer will be treated successfully. See a gynecologist if you experience unusual vaginal bleeding, spotting or discharge. bit.ly/fwc-endo-cancer
At menopause, all women should be told about the risks and symptoms of #EndometrialCancer, and strongly encouraged to report any vaginal bleeding, spotting or discharge to their doctor. bit.ly/fwc-endo-cancer
Signs of #VaginalCancer include unusual vaginal bleeding, bleeding after vaginal sex, pain, problems with urination or bowel movements, a watery discharge, or a lump or mass in the vagina. If you experience any of these symptoms, see a gynecologist. bit.ly/fwc-vaginal-cancer
#VaginalCancer is associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18— the #HPV vaccine can be used to prevent HPV infection. Routine wellness visits and cervical cancer screenings can sometimes find early invasive vaginal cancer. bit.ly/fwc-vaginal-cancer
Signs of #VulvarCancer or pre-cancer include chronic itching, abnormal bleeding or discharge, skin color changes (lighter or darker, red or pink), bump or lump with wart- like or raw surfaces. Any symptoms should be checked out by a gynecologist. bit.ly/fwc-vulvar-cancer
While there is no standard screening for #VulvarCancer, knowing what to look for can help with early detection—an area on the vulva that looks different than normal, a bump or lump (red, pink or white), thickening of the skin of the vulva or an open sore. bit.ly/fwc-vulvar-cancer
Right click on the image and select “save as” to save to your device and upload to social media.
Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month Events
Move4Her is the signature fundraising campaign of the Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) that calls on people and organizations from across the country to unite in raising f unds and increasing awareness of the five gynecologic cancers. Every five minutes a person is diagnosed with one of the five gynecologic cancers– cervical, ovarian, uterine/endometrial, vaginal, and vulvar– totaling nearly 116,000 Americans each year. We are out to change that by unifying the gynecologic cancer community.
Learn about all the ways you can get involved this month from FWC Move4Her events to Move4Her fundraising events hosted in your area by fellow supporters.
Whether you or someone you care about has been impacted by gynecologic cancers, you’re able to share your experience and empower others with the knowledge you’ve gained. Your efforts this Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month (GCAM) can have a huge impact on individual lives and the community at large.
What is a proclamation?
A proclamation is a formal government declaration that notifies the general public of a day, week, or month that will have significant community impact. It is generally a written or printed document that outlines the special event or celebratory occasion and is signed and issued by a government official.
Submit a Proclamation
Navigate to your state or local government website and locate the “proclamation” tab or use the website search bar and input the word “proclamation.”
Each state, city, or county will have their own guidelines and procedures for signing proclamations. Follow the instructions for your specific location. Note that you will likely need information such as a proclamation date, who is being celebrated (person, group, or organization), and the reason for your proclamation.
Why are proclamations important?A proclamation is a way to extend our Foundation's reach and raise awareness about gynecologic cancers. GCAM proclamations define essential information about our cause that the general public should know and encourage community members to get involved.
Video: Proclamation Submission Guidelines for Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
Learn how to submit a city, county, or state request for a proclamation in this brief video clip.
Note: All proclamations must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the preferred issue date to allow for the approval process and production of the document itself. Proclamations are not automatically renewed each year. Proclamations that occur every year must be requested annually. If the request is for a repeat of a previous proclamation, a copy of that document should be included with the request.
The Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) steadily pursues its mission of supporting research, education and public awareness of gynecologic cancers. EIN# 23-7067756
The FWC is the official foundation of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO), the premier medical specialty society for health care professionals trained in the comprehensive management of gynecologic cancers.
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