About gynaecological cancers

Gynaecological cancers are cancers of the female reproductive system.

Gynaecological cancers include cancers of the uterus (including endometrium), ovary, cervix, vulva, vagina, and placenta and gestational trophoblastic disease (pregnancy-related cancers).

As a group of cancers, gynaecological cancers are the fourth most common form of cancer for Australian women, and the fifth most common form of cancer causing premature death in Australian women.

The five most common cancers for females in Australia, 2005

Incidence (new cases)

Cancer type/site	No. of new cases	% of all new female cancer cases	Risk of diagnosis by age 75
Breast	12,170	27.4	1 in 11
Colorectal	5,895	13.3	1 in 28
Melanoma	4,640	10.5	1 in 31
Gynaecological	4,193	9.5	1 in 34
Lung	3,444	7.8	1 in 42

Mortality (deaths)

Cancer type/site	No. of deaths	% of female cancer deaths
Breast	2 716	15.9
Lung	2 707	15.8
Colorectal	1 843	10.8
Unknown Primary Site	1 616	9.5
Gynaecological	1 562	9.1

Source:  Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer in Australia: an overview, 2008.

Gynaecological cancers: incidence and mortality

• On average, more than 3 900 women were diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer in Australia each year, between 2001 and 2005.
• Gynaecological cancers were responsible for 1562 female deaths in Australia in 2005, accounting for 9.1% of all female cancer deaths.
• The number of new cases and deaths from the most common gynaecological cancer in 2005 are listed in the table below.

Incidence

Cancer type/site	Incidence (and % of all female cancers)1	Risk of diagnosis by age 751
Uterus, body	1,706 (3.8)	1 in 75
Ovary	1,205 (2.7)	1 in 120
Cervix	734 (1.7)	1 in 198
Vulva	264 (0.6)	1 in 704
Uterus, unspecified	124 (0.3)	1 in 1,492
Vagina	76 (0.2)	1 in 2,549

Mortality

Cancer type/site	Mortality (and % of all female cancer deaths) 1	5 year survival rate (1998-2004)
Uterus, body	225 (1.3)	82.1%
Ovary	888 (5.2)	39.8%
Cervix	221 (1.3)	71.8%
Vulva	63 (0.4)	n/a
Uterus, unspecified	121 (0.7)	n/a
Vagina	21 (0.1)	n/a

Sources:  1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer in Australia: an overview, 2008.

More information:
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Statistics and reports about gynaecological cancers.

HealthInsite – gynaecological conditions
Links to credible information about gynaecological cancers.

Ovarian Cancer Program
Information about ovarian cancer and a directory of facilities providing gynaecological oncology services.