The Science Of Health: Cancers Of The Breast, Colon, Cervix, — Cancers In Women And Their Causes

Women are more prone to certain cancers than men, such as breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and skin cancers. Other cancers that occur in women are endometrial, ovarian, vaginal and vulvar cancers. 

Cancers In Women: Welcome to ‘The Science Of Health’, ABP Live’s weekly health column. Last week, we discussed immunodeficiency diseases, and the scientific advances that are likely in immunology. This week, we will discuss the cancers that occur in women, their risk factors, and ways experts suggest to prevent them.

Women are more prone to certain cancers than men, such as breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and skin cancers. Other cancers that occur in women are endometrial, ovarian, vaginal and vulvar cancers. 

It is important to be aware of these cancers and know their causes, symptoms and risk factors so that they are detected early and can be prevented. 

If cancers are detected while they are small and before spreading to other regions, they can be prevented from becoming severe and treated easily. 

Different types of cancers, and what experts say about them

Colorectal cancer, as the name suggests, is cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum. It can happen due to various reasons, with the risk factors including being overweight, a high intake of red and processed meats, smoking and drinking, age, and family history.

Lung cancer is often caused by smoking, but that is not always the reason, because non-smokers too can get it. Exposure to chemicals and other particles are other causes of lung cancer.

Skin cancers can affect anybody, but people with fair skin are known to be more vulnerable than those with darker skin. Some skin cancers are caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays from sunlight.

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Breast cancer, as the name suggests, is a type of cancer that starts in the breast, and can affect one or both breasts. 

According to the American Cancer Society, most breast lumps are benign and not malignant, or cancerous. While breast lumps are not life-threatening, some types of benign breast lumps can increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.

“Early detection of breast cancer, when the disease is small, has not spread, and may be simpler to treat, can reduce the number of fatalities from the condition. The most reliable method of detecting breast cancer early is by getting routine screening exams,”  Dr Rashmi Baliyan, Consultant – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Primus Super Speciality Hospital, told ABP Live.

Drinking alcohol, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and the use of birth control methods are risk factors of breast cancer. 

Increasing age, a personal history of breast conditions, and radiation exposure are some other risk factors for the disease.

“Risk factors for breast cancer include being female, increasing age, a personal history of breast conditions, radiation exposure, obesity, consuming alcohol, having never been pregnant, postmenopausal hormone therapy. Some causes of breast cancer include getting older, genetic mutations, family history of breast or ovarian cancer,” Dr Akta Bajaj, Senior Consultant and Head – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, told ABP Live.
Breast cancer can be detected early through self-examination of the breasts, or by undergoing an ultrasound or mammography.

“Self-examination of the breast, ultrasound, and mammography can help in early detection of breast cancer,” Dr Mithee Bhanot, Senior Consultant – Obstetrics And Gynaecology, Apollo 24|7, and Apollo Hospitals, Sector-26, Noida, told ABP Live.

Breastfeeding one's child can also help prevent breast cancer, according to Dr. Indrani Salunkhe, Gynaecologist, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central. 

Gynaecological cancers are the cancers that start in the female reproductive system. Cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulval cancer are the different types of gynaecological cancers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. Endometrial cancer can be caused by a wide variety of factors, and older women face a higher risk. If a woman takes tamoxifen for breast cancer, that too can increase her chances of getting endometrial cancer.

Endometrial cancer is also known as uterine cancer or womb cancer.

In women with polycystic ovary syndrome, the uterine lining thickens when there is no menstruation. This can increase the risk of endometrial cancer.

When abnormal cells in the ovary grow in an uncontrolled way, ovarian cancer occurs. Ageing, inheriting faulty genes, smoking, using hormone replacement therapy, obesity, and medical conditions such as endometriosis or diabetes increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer, according to Cancer Research UK.

Cancer that starts in the vagina is called vaginal cancer, while cancer that forms in the vulva, the outer part of the female genital organs, is called vulvar cancer, according to the CDC. 

Women who have had a human papillomavirus infection or cervical cancer in the past, or smoke are at increased risk of developing vaginal and vulvar cancers.

Both vaginal and vulvar cancers are rare. 

Cancer that starts in the cervix, a female reproductive organ that connects the vagina to the upper part of the uterus, is called cervical cancer. This disease occurs most often in women above 30 years of age. 

Human papillomavirus virus infection is the main cause of the disease. 

Women should undergo regular screenings to identify changes in their cervix, if any, and take appropriate steps before those aberrations develop into cancer.

“The HPV test and the Pap test are the procedures used for cervical cancer monitoring. The HPV test searches for infections caused by HPV subtypes that can result in cervical pre-cancers and cancers. The Pap test examines the cervix-taken cells to search for changes that could be cancer or precancer. Detecting cervical cancer early, when it is tiny, has not spread, and may be curable, through routine screening, can stop the disease from becoming severe,” Dr Baliyan said.

Both breast and cervical cancers can be prevented by limiting the number of sexual partners, and practising safe sexual intercourse using condoms

“Breast and cervical cancers can be prevented by delaying first sexual intercourse until the late teens or older, limiting the number of sexual partners, practising safer sexual intercourse by using condoms and dental dams, and avoiding sexual intercourse with people who have had many partners,” Dr Bajaj said.

Cervical cancer vaccination is the most effective way of treating the disease.

Pune-based pharmaceutical firm Serum Institute of India (SII)’s CERVAVAC is India’s first indigenously developed Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine against cervical cancer. 

HPV vaccines protect against infection caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV), which represent a group of more than 200 related viruses. Of these, more than 40 are spread through direct sexual contact. As many as two HPV types cause genital warts, and about a dozen HPV types can cause certain types of cancer, namely cervical, oropharyngeal, vulvar, vaginal, penile, and anal cancers.

HPV vaccines are important because they could reduce the impact of cervical cancer and other cancers caused by human papillomaviruses. More than 95 per cent of cervical cancer is caused by sexually transmitted HPVs. This is the fourth most common type of cancer in women globally, with 90 per cent of these women living in low-and middle-income countries.

If an HPV vaccine is given before a female is exposed to the virus, most cases of cervical cancer can be prevented.