Cancer: What women need to know

A healthy lifestyle, regular check-ups and a general awareness can help you to prevent cancer.

Many women will be affected by cancer at some point in their lives, but the good news is that treatments and cures are becoming more effective and there are ways to reduce your risk of developing the disease.

Chances are that you know someone who has, or had, cancer. Each year, hundreds of thousands of women are diagnosed with some form of cancer, whether it's lung cancer, skin cancer, breast cancer or cancer of the reproductive system. However, the good news is that treatments and cures are becoming more and more effective and–even better–you can reduce your risk of cancer. Research shows that a healthy lifestyle, regular screening tests, and a general awareness of the symptoms could help save your life!

What is cancer?

Healthy cells that make up your body's tissues grow, divide and replace themselves on a regular basis. Sometimes, cells can become out of control–growing, dividing and replacing themselves at an abnormal rate. This causes growths and tumors.

Tumors can be benign (not cancerous), or malignant (cancerous). A malignant tumor can invade tissues and organs, and cancer cells spread to other parts of the body, forming new tumors.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer has the highest death rate compared to other cancers in both men and women. Most cases of lung cancer are caused by cigarette smoking. If you smoke, you have 12 times more chance of developing lung cancer, and second-hand smoke, or "passive smoking," also increases your risk.

Lung cancer has a number of symptoms:

• A persistent cough
• Phlegm streaked with blood
• Chest pain
• Repeat attacks of pneumonia or bronchitis
• Hoarseness
• Weight loss and loss of appetite
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

The good news is that, once you stop smoking, you decrease the risk of developing lung cancer. In a few years, the risk is reduced to the same level of someone who doesn't smoke!

Colon and rectal cancer

The treatment for colon and rectal cancers has improved over the years, and there's a good chance of a cure when it's found in the earlier stages, before it has had the chance to spread.

Symptoms of colon and rectal cancer include:

• Change in bowel habits
• Bleeding from the rectum
• Blood in the stool
• Stools that are narrow
• Abdominal discomfort (bloating, cramps or gas pains)
• A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement
• Decreased appetite
• Weakness and feeling tired

If you have one or more relatives who've had cancer of the colon and rectum, you have an increased risk. It also occurs more often in women aged 50 years or older, and those with inflammatory bowel disease.

Routine screening can help detect colorectal cancer in early stages. One way to detect signs of colorectal cancer is to have a colonoscopy every 10 years. Talk with your doctor about which screening test is right for you. Most women should begin having some type of screening on a regular basis at age 50 years.

Cancer of the colon and rectum could be linked to diet and nutrition. Eat foods that are low fat and high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables and whole-grain cereals.

Skin cancer

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Almost half of American women who live to be 65 years old develop skin cancer. However, the good news is that it's also the easiest cancer to prevent. Too much exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or tanning beds is the main cause of skin cancer.

There are three main types:

• Basal cell
• Squamous cell
• Melanoma

In most cases, basal cell and squamous cell cancers are cured as soon as they're removed. Melanoma can be more of a problem. They start with small, molelike growths. The growths get bigger, change color and get darker. Follow the 'A,B,C,D,E' rule if you're concerned (see box). As well as molelike growths, there are other signs of skin cancer:

• Scaliness, bleeding or oozing from the skin
• Itchiness, tenderness or pain in a bump or mole
• A sore that doesn't heal

To prevent skin cancer, avoid the sun between 10 am and 4 pm. When you're outdoors (whatever time of the year) use sun block with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 25 or higher, and be careful not to burn.

Tell your doctor of changes in your skin and moles, or if there are new growths. When skin cancer is treated in the earlier stages, the cure rate is almost 100%.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer has the second highest death rate, compared to other cancers, in women. However, if it's found and treated at an earlier stage, before it has spread, most women can be cured. You need to be aware of the symptoms:

• A lump, thickening, swelling or dimpling of the breast.
• Nipple distortion. Retraction (pulling inwards), or scaliness
• Nipple discharge or bleeding
• Pain and tenderness of the breast

To detect breast cancer, women should examine their breasts and nipples once a month (see box).

As you grow older, you have an increased risk of breast cancer. If you're between 40-49 years old, it's advisable to have a mammogram–a test to detect breast cancer–every 1-2 years. Once you're 50 years old, you should have one once a year. Your doctor might recommend a mammogram even earlier if you have an increased risk of breast cancer. This might be:

• A family history of breast cancer, especially in a mother or sister
• Your first menstrual period before you were 12 years old
• Your first child after the age of 35, or no children
• Late menopause

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer can develop over time. It becomes serious when it moves into deeper tissue layers, or spreads to other organs.

There might not be symptoms in the earlier stages of cervical cancer. When it's advanced, you have an unusual vaginal discharge and bleeding, or find it painful to have sexual intercourse. Some women have an increased risk of cervical cancer. Risks include:

• Having sex at a young age
• Having more than one sexual partner
• Contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
• Smoking

Don't forget, all women should have a yearly Pap test 3 years after they became sexually active or by the time they are 21 years old. If you're 30 years or older and have had three or more normal tests in a row, your doctor may suggest having Pap tests once every 2-3 years.

Cervical cancer is linked to certain types of human papillomavirus infection (HPV). A vaccine is available to protect against HPV infection, and it works best before a woman is infected.

Ovarian cancer

Cancer of the ovary causes more deaths than any other type of female reproductive system cancer. The risk of this disease is low, but increases with age.

Factors that increase a woman's risk of ovarian cancer include:

• Infertility
• High-fat diet
• Personal history of breast or colon cancer
• Endometriosis
• Advancing age (women older than 60 years have the highest risk)
• Abnormal genes (BRCA 1 and BRCA 2)

Women who have taken birth control pills, have at least one child or have breastfed are at lower risk.

Cancer of the ovary often is hard to detect until it is in an advanced stage. There is not a good test to screen for it. Your doctor may be able to feel a cyst on one or both ovaries during your annual pelvic exam. Very few of these cysts will prove to be cancer, but they should be checked by your doctor.

Uterine cancer

The risk of cancer of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) increases after age 55 years. It occurs most often in women between the ages of 60 and 75 years and is rare in women younger than 40 years. Women who have taken birth control pills appear to have a lower risk than those who have not.

Some factors that increase a woman's risk for this type of cancer include:

• Use of estrogen as hormone therapy
• Not giving birth
• Menopause after age 52 years
• Obesity and related health conditions

Women who do not ovulate often have irregular or missed periods. This increases a woman's risk of endometrial cancer.

If you have any of the following warning signs of endometrial cancer, talk to your doctor:

• Bleeding after menopause
• Abnormal bleeding or discharge between periods
• Prolonged or heavy bleeding during periods

Finally…

A healthy lifestyle, regular check-ups and a general awareness can help you to prevent cancer. Take time to make check-ups and screenings part of your health care routine. Remember, there's a high cure rate for most forms of cancer, if found in the earlier stages. If you're concerned, talk to your doctor!