What are the Most Common Types of Cancer Among Women?

by Rahul Tyagi Team Leader

Getting to know that one is diagnosed with cancer is the hardest thing to endure. It is difficult not only for the one who is diagnosed but also for the people who are related to him or her. However, you should know that two third of the cancers are preventable. Some of the cancers like breast, cervical, skin, ovarian, lung, and endometrial cancer are the most common cancers that are present in women. Breast cancer treatment in India and GI cancer treatment India are very affordable and the doctors here are highly experienced and trained.It is certainly very important to pay heed to the abnormal changes that occur in your body. There are certain traits that you can notice. There are abnormal changes that are noticeable and you can learn about specific cancer type and take preventions. One should be very careful while making sure that one does not have any symptoms and if one feels that there may be chances of having cancer one should get diagnosed and not take it lightly.

While there is no sure method that would help you to avoid cancer, understanding risk factors can help you make decisions about prevention and screening for early signs of the disease. Here’s a look at the five most common cancers in women and steps that you can take to help detect these diseases early:

Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer is one of the most common types of cancers in women worldwide. Every one in eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer in a lifetime. Fortunately, this rate is decreasing with awareness and diagnosis being done at an earlier age but still many women are not aware of the risk factors and symptoms of the disease. It can occur at any age and risk increases with your age. Symptoms of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast or armpit, nipples turn inward, nipple discharge, breast or nipple sore and change in the size or shape of the breast or nipple. If one has a family medical history of breast cancer, one should be more concerned and get diagnosed by a doctor as breast cancer diagnosed in the initial stage is easier to treat. It is recommended that women after the age of 40 should do annual breast cancer screening with mammograms. Every woman should keep a check on her breast shape and should notice and go to a doctor if any odd change is found.

Cervical Cancer: This type of cancer usually impacts women who have been sexually active and occurs in women who have had the human papillomavirus (HPV) which is a virus and is passed during sex. It is also seen to be common in women who smoke, have HIV or AIDS, poor nutrition and who do not get regular Pap tests. There are no symptoms in the early stage of this form of cancer but as cancer grows symptoms like abnormal vaginal bleeding (between periods, during sex or after menopause), pain during sex and vaginal discharge may occur. Smoking, having many children, having a weak immune system, multiple sexual partners and long-term use of oral contraceptive pills can increase the chances of having this cancer. This type of cancer can be prevented by taking various recourses. Condoms could be the best to lower the risk of infection and one can reduce or quit smoking.

Ovarian Cancer: This type of cancer is more likely to occur in women as they get older. Ovarian cancer is getting very common among the women who have never had a child and who have their first child after the age of 30 years. Women who have a family history of hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC), ovarian cancer, or breast cancer are also seen to be more prone to these cancers. Symptoms may include abdominal swelling, digestive problems, pelvic pain and feeling pee is coming all the time. If these symptoms prevail for far more than a few weeks one should see their doctor immediately. One should go through their family medical history and if one discovers any symptoms, one should go to a doctor for a diagnosis and get some tests done. Regular health exams are also essential.

Endometrial Cancer: It is also known by the name of uterine cancer and mostly impacts postmenopausal women. It is cancer in the lining of the uterus and it affects women’s reproductive organs. The average age of onset of this cancer is usually 60. Unfortunately, there are no screening tests to know about this cancer at an early stage. Symptoms may include difficult or painful urination, pain during sexual intercourse, vaginal discharge and abnormal vaginal bleeding. It can be prevented by changing lifestyle or eating habits to ward off obesity and quitting smoking. Exercise can help lower the risk of such cancers in women.

Lung Cancer: Eight out of ten deaths occur due to lung cancer and that is mostly because of smoking. People who do not smoke are also at the risk of lung cancer. Apart from smoking, air pollution, radon gas, secondhand smoke, diesel exhaust, asbestos, and arsenic are the most prevalent causes of lung cancer. Symptoms may include a cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, hemoptysis, hoarseness and difficulty in swallowing. This is the most preventable type of cancer and can be prevented by quitting smoking and minimizing exposure to passive smoke.

In the nutshell, the most common cancers in women have been discussed along with the symptoms and how they may be prevented. You can find some of the best doctors for breast cancer treatment in India. Although, it is not completely possible to prevent any kind of cancer from occurring, being cautious about the changes occurring in one’s own body and keeping track of these symptoms is as essential as knowing about them and what you can do to prevent them or detect them in early stages, which may help save your life. Thus it is very important to be aware of all kinds of changes that take place in your body and having an on-set knowledge about these types of cancers. That is why at the earliest sign of any symptoms one should go to a doctor and get the tests done. Knowing about these things and keeping a check on these might seem like a task, but this might eventually help save your or someone dear’s life in the end.