Cancers that often affect women are breast cancer, skin cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, and lung cancer. Research suggests cancer affects women 20% lesser than men. Cancer is when the cellular results change while causing division and uncontrolled growth of cells. Cells in the human body have a fixed lifespan so that the body can produce a new one. Cancerous cells cannot stop the growth or division. As a result, those cancer cells build in the body by using nutrients and oxygen, leading them to form tumors, damage the immune system, and stop the body from regular functioning. It might be easy to treat and save a life when cancer is yet to spread or in its early stages. Seeking a medical consultation at the beginning stage is a potential symptom for more successful treatment. Following are the types of cancer that affect women, its symptoms, and treatments.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is the second most
frequent type of cancer in women only after skin cancer. According to WHO, around 685,000 women died due to breast
cancer in 2020, and 2.3 million women were diagnosed with one. Breast cancer is
not infectious or transmissible, unlike cervical cancer, which is transmissible.
There will be no development of bacterial or viral infections due to breast
cancer.
Symptoms
Breast cancer usually presents with
thickening in the breast or a painless lump. If a woman finds an abnormal lump
near her breast, she should consult a doctor within two months, even when there
is no pain with the swelling. Other symptoms include—a change in shape, size,
or appearance of the breast; redness, dimpling, or alternation in the skin; a
change in nipple size or skin around the nipple.
Treatment
Treatments for breast cancer are
highly effective, and the survival probability is 90% or even higher,
especially when identified in the early stage. Breast cancer treatments consist
of radiation therapy and surgery to control the spreading in the breast. Systemic cancer treatment can also reduce the
risk of cancer spreading.
Skin cancer
Irregular development of skin cells is
the cause of skin cancer. Cancer can also develop on the skin that is not
exposed to sunlight. It affects people of all tones of skin, including darker
complexion. The three major types of skins cancers are—melanoma,
squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma. When melanoma develops in
people with dark skin tones, it occurs in skin where the sun isn't exposed.
Early treatment for skin cancer can have a successful chance of survival.
Symptoms
Skin cancer usually presents with the
new appearance of a mole. Even when the mole is removed, cancer cells might
have already spread deeper in the skin and will leave an unusual spot. Itchiness,
oozing, a sore spot that is not going away, sudden vision problems, changes in
toenails or fingernails are also symptoms of skin cancer.
Treatment
Nearly all types of skin cancers are
curable if detected at early stages.
Treatments for skin cancer are—Mohs
surgery, simple excision, cryotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiation. Consult a
dermatologist once a year or get tested or get yourself tested with Optimists'
skincare test to update your skin's condition from the comfort of
your home.
Ovarian cancer
The growth of cell that forms in
ovaries is Ovarian cancer. Those cells can develop quickly to invade and
eliminate healthy tissue. Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than other women's
reproductive cancers. Ovarian cancer comes with very mild symptoms or no
symptoms at all. The early it is detected, the better chance for survival.
Symptoms
Ovarian cancer might occur with no
noticeable symptoms. But following are some common symptoms of ovarian cancer.
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Abdominal bloating
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Swelling near abdominal
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Weight loss
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Often fatigue
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Distress in the pelvic area
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Changes in bowel habits
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Constant back pain
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Frequent urination
Treatment
Treatments for ovarian cancer often
involve both surgery and chemotherapy. The surgery removes the cancer
tissue from the ovaries, and chemotherapy will reduce the cancer's size or even
kill cancer. The drugs are given by pills or through the veins for treatments.
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer starts in the cervix,
the upper part of the uterus. The cervix connects the birth canal and uterus.
Cervical cancer occurs in women who are above the age of 30. Human papillomavirus infection or HPV is the
leading cause of cervical cancer. HPV is an infectious virus that passes to
women during sex. While nearly half of sexually active people might have HPV,
very few are said to develop cervical cancer.
Symptoms
The beginning stage of cervical cancer
usually occurs with no symptoms or signs. These are some signs of advanced
cervical cancer—vaginal bleeding, foul odor from the pelvic, pelvic pain during
intercourse, and water and bloody vaginal discharge that are heavy.
Treatment
Treatment for the beginning stage of
cervical cancer involves either radiation or surgery combined with
chemotherapy. For advanced stages, radiation with chemotherapy is the primary
treatment. Receiving a vaccination to prevent HPV can also reduce the risks of
getting cervical cancer.
Endometrial cancer
The endometrium is the part of the
uterus. Endometrial cancer develops when cells in the endometrium grow
exponentially out of control. Having metabolic syndrome or being obese might
increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Tamoxifen
drugs used for breast cancer can also increase the risk of developing
endometrial cancer.
Symptoms
Over 90% of women who are diagnosed
with endometrial cancer come across bleeding and discharges that are not
related to menstruation. Postmenopausal bleeding, pain while urinating or
having intercourse, and pain or mass near the pelvic area are other symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment for endometrial cancer is
the removal of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Other options are
radiation therapy with high energy, drug treatments with powerful chemotherapy,
and hormone therapy that blocks cancerous hormones cells.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the second common cancer, irrespective of gender. But women are more likely to develop lung cancer. Exposure to smoking is the reason for nearly 90% of lung cancer around the globe. The tumor found in women's lung cancer is different from that of men.
Symptoms
Symptoms for lungs cancer are mostly
similar among both women and men—constant worsening in cough, shortness of
breath, coughing blood, chest pain, abrupt weight loss, difficulty in
swallowing, lung infection, and fatigue.
Treatment
Treatment relies on the type of lung
cancer and the depth of cancer spread over the body. Non-small cell lung cancer
treatment is usually a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation
therapy. Small cell lung cancer treatment is with chemo and radiation therapy.
Get yourself tested
Mostly, cancer among women is curable
if it's detected at an early stage. Women should get an overall test annually
to be more proactive and stay updated with their bodies. To know more about the
importance of women's wellness, kindly follow this link. Optimists provides your free doctor consultation online, and with our upcoming
"Women's overall health test," your annual check-ups are possible from
your privacy.
References
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Sex Differences in Cancer: Epidemiology, Genetics and
Therapy
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Systemic Therapy for Breast Cancer
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Melanoma
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Human papillomavirus infection
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The Importance of Women's Wellness
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