On daily basis, throughout our lives, healthy cells in our bodies divide and replace themselves in a controlled fashion. Cancer starts when a cell is somehow, altered so that it multiplies out of control. A tumor is a mass composed of a cluster of such abnormal cells. Cancers continue to grow and spread by direct extension or through a process called metastasis, whereby the malignant cells travel through the lymphatic or blood vessels, eventually forming new tumors in other parts of the body.       

The major types of cancer are carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma and leukemia. Carcinomas are the most commonly diagnosed cancers, originates from skin, lungs, breasts, pancreas and other organs and glands. Lymphomas are cancers of lymphocytes. Leukemia is the cancer of blood. Sarcomas arise in bone, muscle, fat, blood vessels, cartilage or other soft or connective tissues of the body, where they are relatively uncommon. Melanomas are cancers that arise from the cells that make pigment in the skin.    

Cancer has been recognized thousands of years ago as human ailment, yet only in the past century science understood what really cancer is and how it progresses. Cancer specialists are called as Oncologists, they have made remarkable advances in cancer diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Today in society more people diagnosed with cancer and are living longer. However, some forms of disease remain frustatingly difficult to treat. Modern treatment can significantly improve quality of life and may extend survival. When the cancer grow in a woman’s reproductive organs, it is called gynecologic cancer. The five main types of gynecological cancers are cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancers. Of all the gynecological cancers, only cervical cancer has the screening tests that can find the cancer easily. The treatment depends on the type of cancer and how far it has spread. The cervical cancer was usually diagnosed at a younger age, whereas the vaginal and vulvar cancers diagnosed at an older age. The cervix is made of two parts and is covered with two different types of cells. The endocervix is the opening of the cervix that leads into the uterus. It is lined with glandular cells. The ectocervix is the outer part of the cervix that can be visualized while speculum examination, lined with squamous cells. The goal of cervical cancer screening is to find pre-cancer stage and prevention in the early stage of the cancer. The tests of cervical cancer screening are the HPV test and PAP smear test. HPV infection has no treatment, but a vaccine can help prevent it. The main types of cervical cancers are SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS. Most of these squamous cell carcinoma arise in the transformation zone. Most of the other cervical cancers are ADENOCARCINOMAS which develop from glandular cells. Adenocarcinomas develops from the mucus-producing gland cells of the endocervix. Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most important risk factor for cervical cancer. HPV can infect cells on the surface of the skin, and those lining the genitalis, anus, mouth and throat. Because cervical cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted virus, the risk factors are the same as other sexually transmitted infections: early age at first sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, early age at first delivery, increased number of pregnancies, smoking, immunosuppression (eg: human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] or medication), and long-term oral contraceptive use. Women are at high risk of cervical cancer if they are of low socioeconomic status, have poor access to health care, and have husbands with a history of multiple sexual partners. Studies show that Cervarix is 93% effective in preventing cervical precancerous changes. The vaccines form virus-like particles, are noninfectious, and are designed for prophylaxis only. The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that girls and women between the ages of 9 and 26 years should receive the quadrivalent vaccine. Treatment depends on disease extent at diagnosis and locally available resources, and might involve radical hysterectomy or chemoradiation, or a combination of both. Conservative surgical procedures have become standard of care for women with low-risk, early-stage disease. Advances in radiotherapy technology, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy, have resulted in less treatment –related toxicity disease. For women with locally advanced for women with metastatic disease or recurrent disease, the overall prognosis remains poor, nevertheless, the incorporation of the anti-VEGF agent bevacizumab has been able to extend overall survival beyond 12 months so far.. Preliminary results of novel immunotherapeutic approaches, similarly to other solid tumors, have shown promising results. .Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. The endometrium is the lining of the uterus, if the cancer arises in the endometrium it is said to be endometrial carcinoma. The endometrial carcinoma is different from cancer of uterine muscles. The risk factors for endometrial cancer include taking estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT), Obesity, having metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes mellitus, on Tamoxifen therapy for breast cancer, family history of endometrial carcinoma in first degree relatives, in certain genetic conditions like lynch syndrome, early menarche, late menopause, nulligravid women. Common non-cancerous histological findings include both simple and complex hyperplasia (both with and without atypia). Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for metastatic disease. For those patients who have undergone an appropriate staging and treatment surgery, adjuvant RT, chemotherapy or hormonal therapy may be recommended depending upon risk factors. Initially endometrial cancer is staged and treated at surgery. Standard treatment for this cancer is removal of the uterus, cervix, both fallopian tubes and ovaries, as well as selective pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Based upon data from Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) study 33, the two factors most important in determining lymph node involvement are depth of tumor invasion and tumor grade. For women who are not surgical candidates, primary radiation therapy (RT) may be recommended instead of surgery. As an alternative for younger women wishing to preserve fertility, progestin-containing intrauterine devices (IUDs) have been used with reasonable safety and efficacy.