Why women should discuss family history of cancer with their GP

Dr. Hazel O’Sullivan

Medical Oncologist, Cork University Hospital

Ruaidhrí McVey

Gynaecologist Subspecialising in Gynaecological Oncology, Mater and St Vincents Hospital

Experts in the field of gynaecological oncology emphasise the importance of accurate family history, genetic testing and surgical advances in care to improve outcomes.

Experts in gynaecological oncology urge individuals to be proactive in discussing family history with their GP, as early identification of genetic risks can lead to improved outcomes.

Genetics influence gynaecological cancer risk

Dr Hazel O’Sullivan, Medical Oncologist at Cork University Hospital, explains: “Family history is one of the most important factors when assessing the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer. While only about 5% of all cancers are inherited, the proportion is much higher for certain gynaecological cancers at approximately 10–15%.”

Dr O’Sullivan adds: “By identifying gene alterations, we can offer risk-reducing surgery in some cases. For those already diagnosed, genetic profiling of the tumour can determine eligibility for targeted therapies, improving survival rates.

Advances in gynaecological cancer care

The landscape of gynaecological cancer is complex, each of the five distinct types comes with unique diagnostic challenges and treatment approaches. Ruaidhrí McVey, specialising in gynaecological oncology, highlights how the recent evolution of surgical techniques is facilitating treatment precision. “The ability to tailor surgery to the individual patient, balancing the need for radical treatment with preserving quality of life, is one of the biggest advances in recent years,” explains McVey.

“Minimally invasive procedures, such as robotic and laparoscopic surgery, allow for quicker recovery times, reduced complications and improved long-term outcomes for patients with uterine cancer. Many procedures can now be done on a day-case basis,” adds McVey.

Surgeons can now remove localised vulvar tumours while preserving healthy tissue, using special dyes and near-infrared imaging to identify the sentinel lymph node. For more advanced ovarian cancers, extensive surgical interventions combined with contemporary heated intra-abdominal chemotherapy are also improving survival rates.

You are not alone, you will be
listened to, and you will remain
in control of your examination.

Symptom recognition and screening

Awareness is critical, alongside recognition of symptoms such as abnormal bleeding, persistent bloating or swelling, abdominal pain, early satiety and altered bowel habits. “Vulvar pain, bleeding and ulcerations are not normal in post-menopausal women and should always be examined,” explains McVey. “If you have abnormal bleeding or unexplained pelvic symptoms, you should be examined regardless of your smear history — which doesn’t check for ovarian or uterine cancer.”

McVey emphasises: “You are not alone, you will be listened to, and you will remain in control of your examination.”

Resource for gynaecological cancers

The online personalised platform thisisGO.ie is part funded by the Irish Cancer Society Women’s Health Initiative and developed in University College Dublin teaching hospitals. thisisGO.ie is for women, families and health care professionals who have been impacted or work with gynaecological cancer, BRCA or Lynch syndrome. It has 1000’s of resources including articles, videos, clinical trials portal and podcasts.