Do Women Have an Increased Risk of Cancer?

Cancer is the second leading cause of death of women in the United States. Chances are high that in your lifetime cancer may affect you or someone you know; such as a mother, sister, daughter, wife, or friend.

At Jackson Health System, we want you to be aware of how cancer can grow and spread. When we are healthy, systems in our body regulate the rate at which cells grow and when the cells die. As we age, cancer may occur when our body’s regulatory systems lose control over cell growth and/or cell death, which leads to more cells growing than are dying. Those fast- growing cells may form a mass, lump, or “tumor” in an organ. If not diagnosed, the cancer cells may eventually spread to other organs in the body through a process called “metastasis”.

Risk factors are items that may affect your chance of developing a disease such as cancer. Some risk factors we cannot change, like gender or our race. Some risk factors we can change and thereby decrease our chance of developing a cancer. While having one or many risk factors does not necessarily mean you will develop a cancer, you should be aware of your individual risk factors so you can have appropriate medical screening exams and decrease your risk if possible.

So let’s talk now about three cancers which are prevalent in women:  breast cancer, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer. We will talk about the risk factors associated with these cancers; how we detect them; and what we can do to prevent them.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in females, affecting one out of every eight women. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2017, more than 250,000 cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in U.S. women and roughly, 40,000 will die from the disease.

There are many risk factors that may affect your risk of getting breast cancer. Some risk factors, which we are not able to change, that may increase our risk include:

• Increasing age
• Race
• Having your first period at an early age
• Late age at birth of first child
• Menopause at a late age
• Personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Having a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation

However, several activities may decrease your risk of developing breast cancer, such as:

• Breastfeeding
• Eating fruits and vegetables
• Not using hormone replacement therapy with estrogen and progesterone after menopause
• Exercising and physical activity throughout life, and particularly after menopause

The most common symptoms of breast cancer to watch for are:

• Change in the appearance or shape of the breast or nipple
• Feeling a lump in the breast or nipple, nipple retraction and/ or nipple discharge.

If you notice any of these symptoms, you should be evaluated promptly by a physician.

Thankfully, screening for breast cancer with mammography detects many breast cancers at an early stage before they are large enough to feel or cause symptoms. Jackson Health System recommends you start getting an annual mammogram when you turn 40 and you should continue screening mammograms past the age of 75 if you are otherwise healthy and willing to undergo treatment if breast cancer is diagnosed.  If you have any of the above mentioned risk factors or are experiencing any of the mentioned breast symptoms, you should have a conversation with your doctor now.

Cervical cancer is diagnosed in midlife, with most of the cases being found in women under the age of 50. Risk factors which increase your risk of cervical cancer include:

• Infection with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
• Infection with HIV- Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• Chlamydia infection
• Smoking
• A diet low in fruit and vegetables
• Long term use of birth control (including  oral contraceptive pills or an intrauterine device)
• Family history of cervical cancer

The increased use of the Papanicolaou test, (Pap test or Pap smear), has helped decrease the number of  deaths from cervical cancer by more than 50 percent over the last 40 years. The Pap test is recommended by The United States Preventive Services Task Force for women age 21 or older, every three years. Women between the ages of 30 and 64 should undergo a Pap test and HPV test together every five years as long as they have a cervix. Once a female is over 65, she should discuss with her physician if she needs further Pap testing.

Ovarian cancer usually develops later in life in after menopause, with half of the cancers found in women over the age of 63. Ovarian cancer is responsible for more deaths among women than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.  Risk factors for developing ovarian cancer include:

Increasing age
Obesity
Having  a first-time, full-term pregnancy after age 35
Never carrying a pregnancy to term
Personal history of breast cancer
A family history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer.

Some factors which may decrease your risk include:

Pregnancy carried to term prior to age 26
Breastfeeding
Stop using birth control pills after six months
Gynecologic surgery such as a tubal ligation or having a hysterectomy
Eating a low-fat diet

Routine pelvic exams by a physician may improve your chance of detecting ovarian cancer at an early stage. Unfortunately, though, there are no effective recommended screening tests to detect ovarian cancer but research looking for early screening methods is ongoing.

Dr. Amy Collins-Brenner is an Associate Medical Director of General and Oncology Surgery with Jackson Medical Group. She currently treats patients at Jackson North Medical Center and is accepting new patients, office phone (305)654-6850. To Schedule your mammogram for breast cancer screening today at a Jackson Medical facility, call (305) 585-6000 or visit us online at www.JacksonMedicalGroup.org . To schedule your Pap test for cervical cancer screening today with one of the Jackson Medical Group specialists, please call (305) 585-4362 or visit us online at www.JacksonMedicalGroup.org.