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With a growing number of women being affected with cancer and millions falling victim to the disease worldwide, it is very important that women be aware of the symptoms and indicators of the various diseases, so that the detection is possible at the earliest.

Early detection of diseases raises chances of the survival of the victim and in some cases makes it possible for the disease to be cured. In order to check the level of awareness among women about gynaecologic cancers, researchers from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a research.

The objective of the research was to find out women's concern about symptoms that might be related to gynaecologic cancers, their association of symptoms and its causes and their hypothetical response to symptoms.

"Our findings illustrate the need to inform women about gynecologic cancer symptoms, and when to seek care," researcher Cynthia Gelb, a health communication specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was quoted saying by myhealthnewsdaily.com.

For the study, the researchers focused on 15 groups with women aged between 40 and 60 years. The researchers were conducted in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City.

The participants of the study were given a list of symptoms with no titles which could indicate various gynaecologic cancers. The women were asked if the symptoms would concern them, what did they think was the cause behind each symptom and how would they react if they had experienced any of them.

The researchers found that overall, the participants seemed more concerned about symptoms that were clearly gynaecologic in nature. They did not, in general, associate symptoms with any cancer. While some women said that if they experienced the symptoms, they would wait a little longer before seeking help or consultation, others said that they would not seek help at all.

Among the strategies the women listed they would use to replace consultations, included Internet research and self-care.

The researchers, after the study analysis, concluded that it is important to raise awareness of symptoms that may indicate gynaecologic cancers, since early detection always leads to improved survival.

Women need to be informed that gynaecologic cancers can have symptoms which may not be related to reproductive organs (e.g. back pain) and that women experiencing unusual vaginal bleeding should seek care immediately.

"The earlier that gynecologic cancers are found and treated, the more effective treatment can be," Gelb said.