Gynecologic cancer awareness month

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

  • Spread awareness via social media
  • Add resources to your personal, organizational or institutional website
  • Spread awareness in your community
  • Print and share our educational materials

Know the Key Facts

Download the fact sheets below for specific information on each cancer type including symptoms, risk factors and risk reduction.

Social Media Toolkit

Share the following information across your social accounts during the month of September to spread awareness about gynecologic cancers.

General Information Posts

During Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month (GCAM), visit foundationforwomenscancer.org for information about gynecologic cancer symptoms and treatment, risk and prevention, clinical trials and survivor stories.

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 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.

Use the hashtags #GynecologicCancerAwarenessMonth, #GCAM, #MoveTheMessage and #Move4Her.

gynecologic cancer SPECIFIC POSTS

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 46. 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

Social Media images

Right click on the image and select “save as” to save to your device and upload to social media.

Spread awareness in your community

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.

GET YOUR JOB INVOLVED

  • Print and hang posters in your office showing the signs and symptoms of gynecologic cancers.
  • Select a day where everyone wears purple, the awareness color for gynecologic cancers. Take a picture and share it on your company’s social media pages using the hashtag #GCAM.
  • Place a donation jar at your desk or in a common area and let your colleagues know you’re raising money for FWC in honor of GCAM.

GET YOUR SCHOOL INVOLVED

  • Print and hang GCAM posters on community bulletins boards.
  • Encourage your health and wellness center to share these resources and spread awareness about the HPV vaccine, as it lowers the risk of several gynecologic cancers.
  • Plan a creative event where you can share gynecologic cancer resources and fundraise for FWC.

ATTEND A LOCAL HEALTH FAIR

  • Print and hang GCAM posters on community bulletins boards.
  • Encourage your health and wellness center to share these resources and spread awareness about the HPV vaccine.
  • Plan a creative event where you can share gynecologic cancer resources and fundraise for FWC.

INSTITUTIONS

Add resources to your personal, organizational, or institutional website. Incorporate information on websites you have access to so others know where to go to learn more about gynecologic cancers.

GCAM EVENTS

If you find out about GCAM events in your area, share them! Post them on social media, email them to family and friends, or send event information to your local news outlets.

GYNECOLOGIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH (GCAM) PROCLAMATIONS

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.

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.

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 funds 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 115,000 Americans each year. We are out to change that by unifying the gynecologic cancer community.