Female cancers: everything you need to know
Female cancers are those that specifically affect women, i.e. breast and female genital cancers (so-called gynecological cancers). According to the most up-to-date estimates, approximately 178,000 women were diagnosed with cancer in Italy in 2018. What are the most common cancers? First of all that of the breast, which in Italy affects 29% of the total, followed by that of the colorectal (13%), lung (8%), thyroid (6%) and the body of the uterus (5 %). Breast cancer remains the most frequent even if one considers the set of cancers that affect both men and women. Fortunately, early diagnoses and increasingly effective therapies allow today a greater chance of surviving cancer, even female ones: a 5 years from diagnosis, 87% of women affected by breast cancer are alive, 77% of those who have faced cancer of the uterus body, 68% of those who have had cervical cancer, 40 % of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Research progress is very important and must be supported. Before we understand what you can do for your health and that of all women, let's explore together what are female cancers , the causes and risk factors, the most effective prevention methods and the relationship with fertility and pregnancy. Meanwhile - speaking of prevention - here is a video to learn breast self-examination:
What are female cancers and which are the most frequent?
Female cancers, as we said, are specific to the female gender, and belong to two categories: breast cancer and gynecological cancers. Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women and only 5-7% is inherited. There are 4 different subtypes of breast cancer: two that depend on hormone receptors (estrogen, ER and progesterone, PR), a third that depends on a receptor for a growth factor (called HER2) that promotes the proliferation of cancer cells ( represents 20% of cases) and the fourth, the most aggressive, the so-called triple negative, which instead does not depend on any of the aforementioned factors as cancer cells do not have any of these receptors, making them particularly difficult to treat because they lack possible targets therapeutic. According to the stage of the disease, we will then speak of stage 0, I, II, III and IV. Thanks to advances in science, as many as 80% of women affected by breast cancer are now alive 10 years after diagnosis. Gynecological cancers are different. C "is cancer of the body of the uterus, the most frequent among cancers of the female genitalia, which develops mostly from the cells of the endometrium. Cancer of the uterine cervix (or neck of the uterus), on the other hand, can be classified into squamous cell carciroma (the most frequent) or adenocarcinoma (15%), and is associated with some strains of papillomavirus. Compared to other types. of cancer, cervical cancer can be diagnosed early, with various screening methods, thus making it well treatable. Ovarian cancer is malignant only in 15-20% of cases, while most of the time it is benign forms such as ovarian cysts or is the so-called "borderline" because it has an intermediate form of malignancy. Most of these tumors originate from the cells lining the ovary, and about 10-20% depend on the mutation of the BRACA1 and BRACA2 genes. Cancer of the vulva and vagina, finally, in 90% is cell carcinoma scaly and accounts for about 5% of female genital neoplasms.
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What are the causes and main risk factors of female genital or breast cancers?
Female tumors can depend on non-modifiable risk factors (for example hormonal factors or related to the genetic mutation, eg BRACA1 and BRACA2), but at the same time useful for making an effective prevention and diagnosis, or on others, instead, on which it is possible to intervene, putting aside bad habits and improving one's lifestyle. Smoking, for example, is a very high risk factor and not only for lung cancer, but also for breast, ovarian and cervical cancer. Stopping smoking is essential to prevent the onset of cancer! Obesity is also an important risk factor. In Europe it is estimated that 9% of female cancers are caused by obesity. The data show that the chance of developing breast cancer is significantly higher in obese women after menopause. As if that weren't enough, obesity also makes treatments less effective. Another risk factor is a sedentary lifestyle: the lack of movement would cause 9-19% of cancers to arise. Finally, a last factor are viruses, and among these in particular some strains of the papillomavirus (HPV), transmitted sexually: in women they can cause, among others, cancer of the uterine cervix, vulva, vagina. Fortunately, vaccines exist today that help prevent the disease.
What are the most effective prevention methods?
The methods of prevention of female tumors are divided into primary and secondary. Primary prevention includes specific vaccinations against the development of tumors and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle. If the latter were adopted since childhood, it is estimated that in Italy today it would be possible to avoid about 40% of tumors! The vaccine against papillomavirus is offered for free in our country at the age of twelve. It can also be requested by adults (up to 45 years of age), but it is better to talk to your doctor. 95% of the population would break the chain of contagion! For smoking, as we said, it is better not to start at all, otherwise it is recommended to quit as soon as possible: those who stop smoking at any age reduce the chance of dying from cancer by 30-40%! Among the rules of a healthy lifestyle, there is also a correct diet. Keeping your weight under control is essential, as well as limiting the consumption of alcohol, processed red meats, sugary drinks, packaged foods rich in fats, sugars and starches Whole grains, legumes, fruit and vegetables should instead be preferred.Here are some foods recommended for breast cancer in our album:
See also: Breast Cancer Super Foods: What to Eat Every Day
Physical exercise is also very important for cancer prevention. Those who practice it regularly lower the chances of contracting it by 7%! For female cancers, the percentage is even higher: regular sports activity reduces by 21% possibility of being affected by endometrial cancer and a 10% chance of contracting breast cancer. You don't need to be an athlete: about half an hour / one hour of moderate-intense aerobic activity a day, at least 5 times a week, is enough. Secondary, on the other hand, is that which allows the identification of premalignant lesions, which can be removed before the cancer develops, and tumors at the initial stage, which can therefore be treated with more chances of success. Our National Health System offers three free screening programs: mammography for breast cancer (to be performed every 2 years for women between 50 and 69) and Pap smears for cervical cancer (every three years for women between 25 and 64), to be associated with the HPV test, to be repeated every 5 years.
Female tumors: fertility and pregnancy
Treatment for female cancers can compromise a woman's fertility. For this reason it is important that young women rely on cancer centers with a specialized team, capable of offering strategic advice to protect fertility within 48 hours of diagnosis. There are pharmacological protections, the possibility of freezing embryos or oocytes or, again, ovarian tissue, or forms of fertility preservation surgery. Thanks to the results of a study carried out with the support of AIRC, for example, the use of triptorelin to protect fertility has proven to be very effective: after the treatments, women have regularly restarted to evere the cycle. In the event that a tumor is diagnosed during pregnancy, today it has been shown that the chances of survival are the same for non-pregnant women. Pregnancy, in fact, does not aggravate the cancer and you can undergo treatment starting from the second trimester. children are limited, mainly linked to the possibility of premature birth or low birth weight Every woman must be informed about these aspects and supported on a psychological level before deciding whether or not to terminate the pregnancy.
What can you do for your health and to help research?
If you're wondering what you can do to prevent female cancers, it's easy to say! To prevent breast cancer, do the right check-up at any age: between 30 and 40, the annual visit to the gynecologist; between 40 and 50 specific exams in case of familiarity; between 40 and 70 mammography every 2 years. Also, do not smoke, do physical activity, choose a balanced diet rich in vegetables and if you are or will be a mother and the conditions are right, continue breastfeeding your baby for up to 6 months or more. Then pay attention to the alarm bells, namely the presence of a lump, redness and thickening of the skin around the nipple, changes in the shape of the nipple, loss of blood, whey or milk, axillary swelling. For gynecological cancers, instead, do Pap tests and HPV tests from the beginning of your sexual activity up to the age of 70, every 3 years, and remember your annual visit to the gynecologist. If you have a daughter between 11 and 12, vaccinate her against HPV! Daily prevention is also important: even in this case, do not smoke, play sports, eat healthy and limit the chances of infections with the use of condoms.
Furthermore, a key aspect is to support research. through donations or by responding to the many initiatives that AIRC proposes during the year.
On the occasion of Mother's Day, for example, AIRC allows you to make our contribution with a simple gesture: buy an azalea, the symbol of Mother's Day and research on women's cancers, for a donation of 15 euros.
This year, for obvious reasons, they will not be distributed in the square by AIRC volunteers, but they can only be ordered on Amazon.it starting from Monday 27 April 2020 and received directly at home thanks to the contribution of Banco BPM.
Not only that, however, as anticipated, it is possible to guarantee the continuity of the precious and fundamental work of AIRC researchers also through a donation:
• with all credit cards on airc.it or by calling an AIRC operator on the toll-free number 800 350 350 (active from Monday to Saturday from 8.30 to 19.30)
• by calling 45521 from a landline to donate 5 or 10 euros or by always sending one or more SMS to 45521 worth 2 euros
• Banco BPM by bank transfer IT63R0503401633000000007226, for customers at all authorized ATMs and through home banking.
The information was provided by AIRC Text corrected and revised by Carlotta Giorgi, researcher at the Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine of the University of Ferrara.
