There are a few cancers that predominantly or exclusively affect females due to differences in anatomy and physiology between men and women. Two of the most common cancers that impact females are breast cancer and ovarian cancer. These cancers arise from female-specific organs and are related to hormones and genetic factors unique to women’s bodies.
Breast Cancer
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts. The disease occurs almost exclusively in women, but men can get breast cancer as well. Breast cancer begins when healthy cells in the breast change and grow uncontrollably, forming a mass called a tumor. A tumor can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous, meaning it can spread to other parts of the body). Breast cancer spreads when the cancer grows into other parts of the body or when breast cancer cells move to other parts of the body through the blood vessels and/or lymph vessels.
Types of Breast Cancer
There are several types of breast cancer, including:
– Ductal carcinoma: This is the most common type of breast cancer, forming in the ducts that carry milk to the nipple. It accounts for around 80% of breast cancer diagnoses.
– Lobular carcinoma: This type starts in the milk-producing glands, or lobules. It accounts for around 10-15% of cases.
– Invasive ductal carcinoma: This is when the cancerous cells spread from inside the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue. At this point, it has the potential to metastasize, or spread to other parts of the body.
– Invasive lobular carcinoma: This starts in the lobules of the breast before invading other tissues. Like invasive ductal carcinoma, it can metastasize to distant sites.
– There are also less common subtypes like inflammatory breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and more.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for breast cancer include:
– Being female – Men can get breast cancer but it is about 100 times more common in women
– Increasing age – Most breast cancers occur in women over age 50
– Genetic mutations – Mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, and other genes can increase breast cancer risk
– Family history of breast cancer
– Personal history of breast cancer or high-risk lesions
– High breast density on mammograms
– Radiation exposure
– Obesity, especially after menopause
– Alcohol consumption
– Not having children or having children later in life
– Use of hormone replacement therapy
– Early menstruation or late menopause
Symptoms
Some common symptoms of breast cancer include:
– A new lump or mass in the breast
– Thickening or swelling of part of the breast
– Irritation or dimpling of the breast skin
– Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area
– Pulling in of the nipple
– Nipple discharge other than breast milk
– Pain or soreness in the breast
However, it’s important to note that many breast cancers are asymptomatic early on and are only detected via screening mammograms. This is why regular mammogram screenings are recommended for women at average risk starting at age 40.
Diagnosis
If symptoms or a screening mammogram indicate a possible breast cancer, your doctor will run tests to confirm the diagnosis. These may include:
– Imaging tests like diagnostic mammography, ultrasound, or MRI
– Breast biopsy – Removal of a small sample of breast tissue to look for cancerous cells under a microscope
– Blood tests looking for tumor markers or genetic mutations
– Other tests like a sentinel lymph node biopsy to see if cancer has spread
These tests can determine whether cancer is present, what type it is, what stage it is, and other important information to guide treatment.
Treatment
Breast cancer treatment depends on the type, stage, and characteristics of the cancer, along with the patient’s overall health, needs, and preferences. Common treatments include:
– Surgery – Lumpectomy or mastectomy to remove cancerous tissue. Lymph nodes may also be removed.
– Radiation therapy – High energy beams kill and slow the growth of cancer cells. This may be done after surgery.
– Chemotherapy – Cancer-killing drugs given orally or intravenously. They may be given before or after surgery.
– Hormone therapy – Blocks estrogen production and receptors in hormone-sensitive cancers.
– Targeted therapy – Drugs that target specific vulnerabilities in cancer cells.
– Immunotherapy – Uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer.
Treatment typically involves a combination of surgery plus radiation, systemic therapies like chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and more. The good news is survival rates for breast cancer have improved dramatically thanks to advances in early detection and treatment.
Prevention
While many risk factors for breast cancer cannot be controlled, steps women can take to lower their chance of developing breast cancer include:
– Maintaining a healthy weight
– Exercising regularly
– Limiting alcohol intake
– Breastfeeding if possible
– Getting regular screening mammograms after age 40
Clinical exams, self-exams, genetic testing, and even risk-reducing medications or prophylactic mastectomy in very high-risk women may also be considered for prevention.
Outlook
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer. About 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of a lifetime. Thanks to earlier detection and better treatments, the 5-year survival rate for localized breast cancers is around 99%. Even for late stage metastatic disease, survival is improving. Continued progress in research and awareness offers hope for further declines in breast cancer incidence and mortality.
Ovarian Cancer
What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries, which are reproductive glands found only in women that produce eggs for reproduction. Ovarian cancer occurs when normal ovarian cells mutate and grow uncontrollably, forming a mass called a tumor. A tumor can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous, meaning cells can invade other tissues or spread to other parts of the body). The ovaries are made up of three main types of cells, and tumors can arise from any of them. The most common ovarian cancers start in the epithelial cells on the surface of the ovary.
Types of Ovarian Cancer
The major types of ovarian cancer include:
– Epithelial ovarian cancer – Begins in the epithelial cells lining the ovaries. Accounts for about 90% of ovarian cancers.
– Germ cell ovarian cancer – Begins in the cells that form eggs. Rare, most common in teens and young women.
– Stromal ovarian cancer – Begins in the cells that release hormones. Account for around 7% of cases.
– There are other rarer subtypes. Ovarian cancer types differ in risk factors, genetics, prognosis, and treatment.
Risk Factors
Factors that increase ovarian cancer risk include:
– Age – Most common in older women with a median age of 63 at diagnosis. Risk goes up each decade after 30.
– Family history – Having a mother, sister, or daughter with ovarian cancer increases risk.
– Genetic mutations – Inherited changes in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes increase ovarian cancer risk.
– Obesity
– Endometriosis
– Not having children
– Early onset of periods or late menopause
– Fertility treatments
Symptoms
Ovarian cancer has been called a “silent killer” because early symptoms are vague and easily mistaken for other less serious conditions. Symptoms may include:
– Bloating or abdominal swelling/distension
– Urinary frequency or urgency
– Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
– Abdominal or pelvic pain
– Back pain
– Changes in bowel habits like constipation
– Fatigue
– Upset stomach or heartburn
Since these symptoms have many possible causes, ovarian cancer can be difficult to diagnose early. That’s why it’s important for women to monitor symptoms and discuss persistent issues with their doctor.
Diagnosis
If ovarian cancer is suspected, your doctor will perform:
– Pelvic exam – Palpates ovaries and nearby organs
– Blood tests – Checks for tumor markers like CA-125
– Transvaginal ultrasound – Gets detailed ovarian images with a probe
– CT scan or MRI – Provides cross-sectional views of the ovaries and abdomen
– Laparoscopy – Inserts a thin camera scope into the abdomen to view organs
– Biopsy – Removal of fluid or tissue sample for microscopic examination
These tests help characterize any tumors and determine whether ovarian cancer is present. Staging tests like CT scans, MRIs, and PET scans would follow to see if/where the cancer has spread.
Treatment
Treatment of ovarian cancer involves:
– Surgery – Usually hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries). Debulking surgery may be done to remove as much cancer as possible.
– Chemotherapy – Typically carboplatin and paclitaxel after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells. May sometimes be given before surgery.
– Radiation therapy – Not commonly used for ovarian cancer. Role is limited.
– Targeted therapy – Drugs that attack specific molecular targets on cancer cells.
– Hormone therapy – Used for certain types that are sensitive to hormones.
– Immunotherapy – May be an option for some patients. Still being studied.
Combination surgery and chemotherapy is the standard treatment for most ovarian cancers. Advanced stage disease has a poorer prognosis but treatment can still extend and improve quality of life.
Prevention
There is no proven ovarian cancer screening method for the general population. For women at high genetic risk, removal of the ovaries and Fallopian tubes after childbearing is an option. Other preventive steps include:
– Oral contraceptive use – Reduces risk, especially with long-term use
– Pregnancy and breastfeeding – Decreased risk in women who have had multiple pregnancies
– Tubal ligation or hysterectomy – Reduces risk by preventing transfer of cancer cells between reproductive organs
Outlook
Ovarian cancer accounts for about 3% of cancers in women and is the deadliest gynecologic cancer. Over 20,000 women are diagnosed in the U.S. yearly. Survival is strongly tied to early detection and proper treatment. The 5-year survival rate is 93% for localized stage cancers but only 29% for cancers with distant metastases. Still, treatment advances and research offer hope for improving long-term outcomes going forward.
Conclusion
Breast cancer and ovarian cancer are two of the most common cancers that primarily impact women. Though some risk factors are modifiable, like weight, alcohol use, and hormone therapy, other factors like family history and genetics cannot be changed. Early detection offers the best chance for survival, so awareness of common symptoms and utilizing screening tests appropriately can improve outcomes. Thankfully, treatment options are improving continually, providing hope for better long-term prognosis. More research is still needed to further understand genetic and biologic factors in female-specific cancers so both prevention and treatment can keep progressing.
