COMMON CANCERS IN

WOMEN
SUHA DAMAG
COMMON CANCERS AMONG WOMEN

Breast cancer
Lung cancer
Colorectal cancer
Cervix cancer
Uterine/endometrial cancer
BREAST CANCER
 FACT SHEET

Breast cancer was the

most common cancer
worldwide in women
contributing to more than
25% of the total number
of new cases diagnosed in
2012. Latest date available.
 The most common cancer in women, no matter of race
or ethnicity.
It is the second leading cause of cancer death among
women.
On average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with
breast cancer and 1 woman will die of breast cancer
every 13 minutes.
 RISK FACTORS

Cancer grows when a cells DNA is damaged, but why or

how that DNA becomes damaged is still unknown. It
could be genetic or environmental, or in most cases, a
combination of the two.
 GENETIC FACTORS
Gender
Age
Race
Family History and Genetic
Factors
Personal Health History
Menstrual and Reproductive
History
Certain Genome Changes Dense Breast Tissue
 ENVIRONMENTAL AND LIFE STYLE
RISK FACTORS
Lack of Physical Activity
Poor Diet
Being Overweight or Obese
Drinking Alcohol
Radiation to the Chest
Combined Hormone Replacement
Therapy (HRT)
 WHAT TO DO?
The best defense against breast cancer is to find it
early when its small, has not spread, and is easier to
treat. Finding breast cancer early is called early
detection.
Women ages 40 to 44
Women age 45 to 54
Women 55 and older
All women should be familiar with the known benefits,
limitations, and potential harms linked to breast cancer
screening. They should also be familiar with how their
breasts normally look and feel and report any changes to
a health care provider right away.
LUNG CANCER
 FACT SHEET

Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer

in women.
Accounts for 14 percent of female cancer cases and 26
percent of all deaths.
A womans odds of getting this cancer: 1 in 16.
It is the first leading cause of cancer death among women.
 RISK FACTORS
Tobacco smoking:
smoking is by far the leading
risk factor for lung cancer.
Exposure to Asbestos
Exposure to Radon
Secondhand smoke:
cause more than 7,000
deaths from lung cancer
 Air pollution
 The Role of Estrogen: It is likely that estrogen plays a
role in the development and progression of lung cancer
and further research is being done to define it.
Arsenic in drinking water
Previous radiation therapy to the lungs
Diet
Personal or family history of lung cancer
 WHAT TO DO?
The best defense against lung cancer include:
Quit smoking
Avoidance of second hand smoke
Testing the house for radon
Exercising
Checking out superfoods that may reduce lung cancer risk and,
if a person is already living with lung cancer, learning
about lung cancer-fighting foods.
COLORECTAL CANCER
 FACT SHEET
colorectal cancer is the third
most common cancer
among all women
More than 90 percent of
colon cancers occur in those
50 and older.
A womens odds of getting
this cancer is 1 in 23 (4.4%)
Colorectal cancer is more common in men than
women and among those of African American descent.
The number of new cases of colon and rectum cancer
was 41.0 per 100,000 men and women per year based
on 2009-2013 cases.
 RISK FACTORS

Genetic
Being older
racial and ethnic background
Treatment for other types of cancer
 A personal history of
colorectal polyps or
colorectal cancer
A personal history of
inflammatory bowel
disease
A family history of
colorectal cancer or
adenomatous polyps
 ENVIRONMENTAL AND LIFE STYLE
RISK FACTORS

overweight or obesity
Physical inactivity
Certain types of diets
Smoking
Heavy alcohol use
 WHAT TO DO?

The best defense against colorectal cancer is by

early detection and by managing risk factors
Screening for colorectal cancer is highly effective and
when found early, colorectal cancer is one of the
most treatable forms of cancer
 Ages 18-39: Screening is not necessary unless
the person have IBD, a family history of the
disease, or a hereditary syndrome such as Lynch
syndrome.
Ages 40-49: Review risks with doctor.
increased risk if a person had polyps in the past.
Ages 50+: Everyone should be screened.
Screenings can include
a colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and/or annual
stool occult blood test
 REFERENCES
1. Worldwide data | World Cancer Research Fund International [Internet]. Wcrf.org. 2017
[cited 24 March 2017]. Available from: http://www.wcrf.org/int/cancer-facts-figures/worldwide-
data
2. Risk Factors :: The National Breast Cancer Foundation [Internet].
www.nationalbreastcancer.org. 2017 [cited 24 March 2017]. Available from:
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-risk-factors
3. Cancer Facts for Women [Internet]. Cancer.org. 2017 [cited 24 March 2017]. Available from:
https://www.cancer.org/healthy/find-cancer-early/womens-health/cancer-facts-for-women.html
4. Lung Cancer Risk Factors [Internet]. Cancer.org. 2017 [cited 24 March 2017]. Available from:
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/prevention-and-early-detection/risk-factors.html
5. How Is Lung Cancer Different in Women? [Internet]. Verywell. 2017 [cited 24 March 2017].
Available from: https://www.verywell.com/lung-cancer-in-women-2249402
 6. CDC - What Are the Risk Factors for Lung Cancer? [Internet]. Cdc.gov.
2017 [cited 24 March 2017]. Available from:
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/basic_info/risk_factors.htm
7. Statistics - Colon Cancer Alliance - Prevention, Research, Patient Support
[Internet]. Colon Cancer Alliance. 2017 [cited 24 March 2017]. Available from:
https://www.ccalliance.org/get-information/what-is-colon-cancer/statistics/
8. Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors [Internet]. Cancer.org. 2017 [cited 24 March
2017]. Available from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-
cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
9. Women? W. What Are the Most Common Cancers in Women? Insight
[Internet]. Blog.dana-farber.org. 2017 [cited 24 March 2017]. Available from:
http://blog.dana-farber.org/insight/2016/05/what-are-the-most-common-
cancers-in-women/