NORFOLK, Neb. -- A hospital in northeast Nebraska is helping raise awareness for women's health.

Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk is honoring Gynecology Cancer Awareness Month by helping the public learn more about different kinds of gynecologic cancers.

Dr. Alex Laudenklos, an OB/GYN at Faith Regional Health Services, explained why having a month devoted to raising awareness for different gynecologic cancers is important.

"There's a lot of patients who could really use the education and the awareness of gynecologic cancers so post-menopausal bleeding doesn't go on for a year or three years," Laudenklos said.

Gynecologic cancers include ovarian, uterine, cervical, labial, and more.

According to the American Cancer Society, there were an estimated 110,070 new cases diagnosed and approximately 32,120 deaths from gynecologic cancers in the U.S. in 2018.

Laudenklos added that catching cancer at an early stage will likely result in a higher chance of survival.

"Cervical cancer screening is important because it catches things before we have a cancer diagnosis and in those patients, it makes a significant difference in overall treatment and impact on long-term survival rates," Laudenklos said.

Symptoms of gynecologic cancers include post-menopausal bleeding, pain, and change in bladder habits.

Most gynecologic cancers are not screened for, so it is mainly up to the patient to seek the help they need from medical professionals once symptoms begin.

"We do cervical cancer screenings with a pap smear, once every three to five years," Laudenklos said. "The remainder of the gynecologic cancers, we rely on women presenting with symptoms so hopefully, we can catch it in a pre-cancerous stage or in an early cancer stage."

Laudenklos stressed that annual visits are important to make sure that the patient is healthy and their body has no problems.

If anyone would like to schedule a visit, they contact the FRHS office at 402-644-4600.