Cancers in Women

A cancerdefine is a state of abnormal growth and replication of cells in the body at a certain point. The cell division is a highly regulated process with the new cells getting formed only when the old cells die. However, this process can go off track at times with the continuous growth of new cells at a rate higher than the cell death rate. Thus, the extra cell mass is formed in a tissue or an organ which is called a tumor.

There are two types of tumors: Benign and Malignant tumors. While the Benign tumors are not life threatening and rarely pose a threat to the human life, the malignant tumors have the capacity to cause irreparable damage to the cells and also spread to the other parts of the body. It is the growth of these malignant tumors that is called cancerdefine.

The tumors can be removed from the body through a surgery. Benign tumors generally don’t grow back whereas malignant ones have the tendency to grow back.

Few very dangerous forms of cancer are - lung cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer and pancreatic cancer. Although men and women are equally susceptible to some cancers, there are a few types which severely affect women. A few of such cancers are:

1. Breast Cancer - This is the second most prevalent cancer in women after the lung cancer. The exact cause is not known but as is the case with most cancers, it is caused by a combination of various factors.

• Age is one of the most common factors. The chances of getting a breast cancer increase with age. Most of the breast cancers have been reported in women over 60.

• Genetic changes: Changes in certain genesdefine increase the risk of breast cancer. These genes include BRCA1, BRCA2, and many others. Genetic changes are one of the most important factors causing cancers. The mutation in the gene sequences can lead to altered functioning of cell cycle and other signals leading to abnormal cell growth.

• Race: Studies have found that White women are more susceptible to breast cancer in comparison to Latin, Asian, or African American women.

• Obesity: Obesity after the menopause increases the risk of getting breast cancer.

• Drinking alcohol: Studies suggest that the consumption of alcohol by women increases the risk of getting a breast cancer.

The most common symptoms include the change in the size of the breast, the shape becoming irregular and the formation of lumps near the breasts or in the underarms. Early stages of breast cancer do not cause pain, so it is not easily detectable. Frequent check-ups and spreading awareness regarding the same can be the only way in which the spread of cancer can be controlled.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are drugs that have been found to have anti-estrogen properties. It’s this anti-estrogen activity which might help in reducing the risk of breast cancer by blocking the effects of estrogen on breast tissue. Research is being carried out all over the world to see SERM’s effectiveness.

2. Cervical Cancer - The cervix is the lower part of a woman's reproductive system that connects the uterusdefine and the vagina. The Cervical canal acts as the passage for the blood flowing from the uterus during the menstrual period.

Cancer formed in tissues of the cervix is called cervical cancer. This cancer does not have clear symptoms and can only be identified using a set of tests called Pap tests.

The risk factors involved with this cancer are:

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. The virus can be transmitted through a sexual contact and can cause mutations in the cells of the cervix leading to the formation of cancer.

• Age: Women over the age of 40 are susceptible to the cervical cancer.

• Smoking: Women who smoke cigarettes have a higher chance of developing a cancer after the HPV infection than the ones who do not smoke.

• Regular Pregnancy: Studies have found that giving birth to many children is one of the risk factors of getting a cancer among women with HPV infection.

3. Ovarian Cancer - Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from an ovary. The cancer most commonly forms in the lining of the ovary (resulting in epithelial ovarian cancer) or in the egg cells (resulting in a germ cell tumor). Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of death from cancer in women and the leading cause of death from gynaecological cancer (cancer of the ovaries). A woman has a lifetime risk of ovarian cancer of around 1.5% which makes it the second most common gynaecologic malignancy, next to the breast cancer.

The diagnosis of ovarian cancer can be suspected from a physical examination (including a pelvic examination), a blood test or from medical imaging studies. The diagnosis can be confirmed with a surgical procedure (open or keyhole surgery) to inspect the abdominal cavity, take biopsies (tissue samples for microscopic analysis) and look for cancer cells in the abdominal fluid.

Infertile women and those with a condition called endometriosis, those who have never been pregnant and those who use postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy are at increased risk. Use of oral contraceptive pills is a protective factor. The risk is also lower in women who have had their uterine tubes blocked surgically.

4. Uterine Cancer - This cancer is a bit unusual in its behaviour. The women who show the risk factors seldom get the cancer whereas many who do get this disease have none of these factors. Certain risk factors of this disease are:

• Age: Uterine cancer is common in women over the age of 50.

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) : HRT is the technique in which certain hormonesdefine are used to control the symptoms of menopause and to prevent thinning of the bones. Researchers have found that women who use estrogen without progesterone have a higher risk of getting the cancer. Excessive use of estrogen can also be harmful.

• Race: White women are more susceptible to the cancer than the African American women.

Although no definite cure has been found for these cancers, there are a few techniques which are being used for the remedy. In these measures, doctors either try and remove the tumorous cells or kill them. The most commonly used treatments are:

Surgery - The tumor formed in any part of the body is surgically removed. After the removal, regular tests need to be done in order to check if the tumor grows back or not. Certain supporting medicines are also given at times to prevent the growth.

Radiationdefine Therapy - Radiation therapy or the radiotherapy makes use of high-energy radiations to kill cancer cells. This can be carried out by using radiations from an external source or by using an internal implant of a radioactive element. The person is kept isolated in case of internal implant as the radiation emitted from the body can be harmful to others. However, this process has some side effects as well. The radiations can lead to hair fall and skin infections which prove to be harmful for the patient in the long run.

Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy is one of the most used techniques for the cure of cancers. This process uses anticancer drugs which are injected into the bloodstream. As the drugs are present in the blood, they reach each and every part of the body. For treatment of certain cancers, chemotherapy is used in combination with radiation therapy. However, in some cases only chemotherapy is used. The process has yielded good results in the recent past and is particularly beneficial in cases where cancer has not spread to too many areas in the body.