Female-related
Cancer Information
The following
information includes information on the leading causes of cancer
deaths for women. Each of the Top 5 cancer sites has a link that
will take you directly to specific information on the American
Cancer Society website. Visit the site, as well as the Centers
for Disease Control, to find more information on risk factors,
prevention strategies, as well as frequently asked questions and
treatment options.
Leading
Causes of Cancer Deaths for Women:
1.
Lung and Bronchus
2. Breast
3. Colon and Rectum
4. Pancreas
5. Ovary
In 2002 there
will be about 169,400 new cases of lung cancer in the United States,
90,200 among men and 79,200 among women, and about 154,900 people
(89,200 men and 65,700 women) will die of the disease. Lung cancer
is fairly rare in people under the age of 40; average age at diagnosis
is 60.
Most lung cancers
start in the lining of the bronchi, but can also begin in other
areas of the lung such as the trachea, bronchioles, or alveoli.
Lung cancer often takes many years to develop but once it occurs,
cancer cells can break away and spread to other parts of the body
in a process called metastasis. Lung cancer is a life-threatening
disease because it often spreads before it is found.
There are two
main types of lung cancer:
Small cell
lung cancer accounts for about 20% of all lung cancers. Although
the cancer cells are small, they can multiply quickly and form large
tumors that can spread to the lymph nodes and then to other organs.
This kind of cancer is almost always caused by smoking; it is very
rare for someone who has never smoked to have small cell lung cancer.
Non-small
cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting
for almost 80% of lung cancers. There are three subtypes within
this group.
- Squamous
cell carcinoma is linked to a history of smoking. It tends to
be found centrally, near a bronchus. - Adenocarcinoma
is usually found in the outer region of the lung. - Large-cell
undifferentiated carcinoma can appear in any part of the lung
and tends to grow and spread quickly, resulting in a poor outlook
for the patient.
The best way
to prevent lung cancer is not to smoke and to avoid people who do.
2. Breast
Every woman
is at risk for breast cancer! Breast cancer is the most common form
of cancer in American women and the second leading cause of death.
Although most women who develop breast cancer have no family history
or other risk factors, during the course of her lifetime, one in
nine women will develop the disease.
In 2002, about
203,500 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast
cancer and about 40,000 women will die from the disease. While it
usually affects women, men are also at risk for breast cancer. An
estimated 1500 cases will be diagnosed in men in 2002. Although
breast cancer cannot be prevented, if it is detected early, it can
be effectively treated. As a result, the American Cancer Society
recommends the following:
- Yearly mammogram
beginning at age 40. - Between
the ages of 20 and 39, women should have a clinical breast exam
every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by
a health professional every year. The CBE should be done close
to, or preferably before, the mammogram. - All women
age 20 and over should do breast self-exams every month.
Most women require
surgery of some kind in the course of treating breast cancer, and
may consider breast reconstruction surgery as a result. For more
information on breast reconstruction visit the following direct
link on the American
Cancer Society website.
Insurance coverage
for mammograms varies by policy, so individuals should check with
her insurance company for more details on costs. Additionally, the
Centers for Disease Control offers free or low cost mammogram screenings
and pap tests for low-income individuals through the National
Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. For more
information on income guidelines and sites in your area visit the
CDC NBCCEDP.
Colorectal cancer
begins in either the colon or the rectum, both part of the digestive
tract. In 2002, there will be about 107,300 new cases of colon cancer
and 41,000 new cases of rectal cancer in the United States. Colon
cancer will cause about 48,100 deaths and rectal cancer about 8,500
deaths.
Cancer can develop
in any of the four sections of the colon or in the rectum. Cancer
beginning in these different areas may cause different symptoms.
Colorectal cancers probably develop slowly over a period of several
years. Before a true cancer develops, there are often earlier changes
in the lining of the colon or rectum. One type of change is a growth
of tissue called a polyp. Removing the polyp early may prevent it
from becoming cancer.
It is important
to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods and to
limit the amount of red meats you eat, especially those high in
fat. Some studies suggest that taking a daily multivitamin containing
folic acid or folate can lower colorectal cancer risk. Other studies
suggest that getting calcium with supplements or low-fat dairy products
can help, and that getting enough exercise is important as well.
Beginning at
age 50, both men and women should follow one of these five screening
options:
- Yearly fecal
occult blood test (FOBT) - Flexible
sigmoidoscopy every 5 years - Yearly fecal
occult blood test plus sigmoidoscopy every 5 years - Double-contrast
barium enema every 5 years - Colonoscopy
every 10 years
4. Pancreas
The pancreas
is found behind the stomach and functions as two separate glands.
Some cells in the gland make pancreatic juice, which contains enzymes
that break down fats and proteins so the body can use them for growth
and repair. Other cells in the pancreas, known as islets, release
two hormones that help control the amount of sugar in the blood.
Both kinds of pancreatic cells can form tumors, but those formed
by the first type (called the exocrine pancreas) are more common
and more likely to be cancerous.
In 2002, an
estimated 30,300 people in the United States will be diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer and about 29,700 will die of the disease. As these
numbers indicate, pancreatic cancer is deadly; about 2 out of 10
patients with cancer of the pancreas will live at least 1 year after
the cancer is found, but only a very few will survive for 5 years.
The best advice
for prevention is to avoid smoking and to eat a healthful diet with
plenty of fruits and vegetables while cutting down on high-fat foods
from animal sources. However, many people with the disease do not
have any risk factors and could not have prevented it.
5. Ovary
Ovarian cancer
starts in a woman’s ovaries. There are two ovaries, one on each
side of the pelvis. The ovaries produce eggs and are the main source
of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.
The American
Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 23,300 new cases
of ovarian cancer in this country in 2002. About 13,900 women will
die of the disease.
We do not yet
know what causes ovarian cancer, so there are no known prevention
strategies. However, because the chances of survival from ovarian
cancer are better if the cancer is found early, all women should
have a yearly pelvic exam beginning at age 18 or when they become
sexually active. During this exam the doctor will feel the ovaries
and uterus, checking their size and shape. Early detection will
most likely occur with regular pelvic exams.
Additional
Cancer Information:
Cervical Cancer Basics
Cervical cancer begins in the lining of the cervix, which is the
lower part of the womb (uterus). The uterus has two parts. The upper
part, called the body of the uterus, is where the baby grows. The
cervix, in the lower part, connects the body of the uterus to the
vagina, or birth canal.
Cancer of the
cervix does not form suddenly. First, some cells begin to change
from normal to pre-cancer and then to cancer. This can take a number
of years, although sometimes it happens more quickly. For some women,
pre-cancerous changes may go away without any treatment. More often,
they need to be treated to keep them from changing into true cancers.
In 2002, an
estimated 13,000 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed
and about 4,100 women will die of the disease, despite the fact
that it is nearly 100 % preventable. Cervical cancer can be prevented
in two ways. The first is by avoiding risk factors, including human
papilloma virus (HPV), which is transmitted by sexual contact. The
second is by obtaining regular Pap tests, which can detect HPV and
precancerous cells, allowing them to be treated before invasive
cancer develops. The American Cancer Society recommends that all
women have yearly Pap tests beginning at age 18 or the onset of
sexual activity, whichever is first. After three negative Pap tests,
the test may be administered less frequently at the discretion of
the woman’s health care provider.
Insurance coverage
for pap tests varies by policy, so individuals should check with
her insurance company for more details on costs. Additionally, the
Centers for Disease Control offers free or low cost mammogram screenings
and pap tests for low-income individuals through the National
Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. For more
information on income guidelines and sites in your area visit the
CDC NBCCEDP.