Here's what you need to know about the cancers that affect women most:
LUNG CANCER
Cases per year: 11,300
Deaths: 9,200
Symptoms: Persistent cough, breathing problems, chest pain, coughing up blood, persistent hoarse voice, frequent chest infections, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite.
Screening methods: There is no general early screening method.
X-rays may detect early signs of the disease but also produce many false-positive results. The Princess Margaret Hospital is involved in an early lung cancer screening study that involves smokers and ex-smokers over 50 and uses low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans, which can show tumours in the very early stages when they are most treatable. The scans show several hundred, 1-mm-thin cross-section images of the lungs from top to bottom; a conventional X-ray only shows two views of the chest.
Risk factors: Smoking, exposure to asbestos, arsenic or radon gas, family history of lung cancer, exposure to air pollution.
Treatment: May include one or more of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, laser therapy, photodynamic therapy.
Latest research: A study funded in part by the Canadian Cancer Society has identified a set of 15 genes that may predict the aggressiveness of an early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer and identify those patients who might benefit from chemotherapy after surgery. The findings suggest that patients without this set of genes have a less aggressive cancer and could be spared chemotherapy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BREAST CANCER
Cases per year: 22,400
Deaths: 5,300
Symptoms: Lump in breast or armpit, changes in breast size or shape, skin changes on breast, redness or swelling in the affected breast, inverted nipple, crusting or scaling on the nipple.
Screening: Mammography (once every two years recommended for women ages 50 to 69); clinical breast examination (once every two years recommended for women over 40); self-examination. Women with family history of breast cancer should ask doctor about a personal plan.
Risk factors: Family history of breast or ovarian cancer, early menstruation, late menopause, having taken hormone replacement therapy for more than five years, never having given birth, giving birth for the first time over the age of 30, dense breast tissue, increased number of non-cancerous cells in the breast, radiation treatment to the chest before age 30, being over 50. Obesity, alcohol consumption and use of birth control pills may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer.
Treatment: Depends on type and stage of cancer and may involve combination of therapies. A lump-ectomy removes the tumour while conserving most of the breast. A mastectomy removes the entire breast and sometimes the lymph nodes. Radiation is used to treat many stages of breast cancer and is frequently used after a lumpectomy. Chemotherapy is used on many stages of breast cancer. Hormonal therapy is used if tumour is hormone-receptor positive. Biological therapy uses drugs to help the body's immune system fight cancer. Herceptin treats human epidermal growth-factor-positive tumours.
Latest research: Research funded by the Canadian Cancer Society includes: assessing the type of information patients require about complementary therapies, use of MRI to detect if cancer has spread, investigating whether combining various anti-cancer drugs can activate genes that prevent spread.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLORECTAL CANCER
Cases per year: 9,700
Deaths: 4,100
Symptoms: Change in bowel habits, bloody stool, diarrhea or constipation, narrower than usual stools, general abdominal dis- comfort, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, vomiting.
Screening: Fecal occult blood test every two years for those over 50.
Risk factors: Polyps, family history of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, high-fat diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, Ashkenazi descent.
Treatment: May include one or more of the following: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, biological therapy where the immune system is strengthened to boost its defences against the disease. Biological drugs can also target the cancer cells without damaging benign ones.
Latest research: Studies are being conducted into the effects of vitamin D, selenium and calcium on people with polyps. Research includes investigating links between a diet low in vitamin B1 and colon cancer risk, and how anti-cancer treatments might block genetic changes within cells.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THYROID CANCER
Cases per year: 3,400
Deaths: 110
Symptoms: A lump in front of the neck, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, hoarseness, difficulty speaking, swallowing or breathing, persistent pain in the throat or neck.
Screening: Physical examination of lymph nodes, blood tests for abnormal levels of thyroid stimulating hormone, ultrasound for examining tiny thyroid nodules, thyroid scans.
Risk factors: Exposure of thyroid gland to radiation, history of thyroid conditions such as goiture and thyroid nodules, family history of thyroid cancer.
Treatment: May include: surgery, radioactive iodine therapy, external beam radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or a combination of these.
Latest research: Recent identification of the genetic causes of inherited thyroid cancer now makes it possible to identify family members carrying the abnormal gene. Other studies involve new chemotherapy drugs which attack specific targets on cancer cells.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UTERINE CANCER
Cases per year: 4,200
Deaths: 790
Symptoms: Unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, pain during intercourse, pelvic pain.
Screening: There is no general early screening method for uterine cancer. The PAP test can occasionally detect early instances of the disease, but most cases are not found through this test.
Risk factors: Being over 50, hormone replacement therapy consisting of estrogen without progesterone, obesity, late menopause, early first menstruation, diabetes, infertility, hypertension, use of the drug tamoxifen.
Treatment: Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes) and removal of lymph nodes, radiation; hormonal therapy, chemotherapy.
Latest research: Australian research has been conducted into the role of heredity in uterine cancer and the connection between a family history of breast or ovarian cancer and an increased risk of developing uterine cancer. Other research includes: analyzing the molecular structure of cancer cells, studying the role of lifestyle in the development of uterine cancers, determining if hormone replacement therapy is safe for uterine cancer survivors.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PANCREATIC CANCER
Cases per year: 1,950
Deaths: 1,950
Symptoms: Few warning signs in early stages. Vague discomfort that comes and goes in the abdomen, pain in the upper abdomen and back, yellowing of skin, eyes and dark urine, leg swelling, increased blood sugar that can cause thirst, frequent urination, unusual weight loss, extreme fatigue, blurred vision, recurring infections, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet; digestive problems such as indigestion, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, fatty stools, flatulence, intolerance of fatty or greasy foods, bloating, belching and persistent hiccups.
Screening: None.
Risk factors: Age over 50, smoking, diet low in vegetables, fruit and fibre, obesity, workplace exposure to gasoline manufacturing process, family history of cancer.
Treatment: Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy.
Latest research: American researchers are using light-scattering techniques to detect changes in the small intestine caused by the disease. It is hoped this will enable physicians to effectively screen for pancreatic cancer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA
Cases per year: 3,200
Deaths: 1,400
Symptoms: Enlarged, usually painless lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin, unexplained weight loss, excessive sweating at night, unexplained fever, general unwell feeling, fatigue.
Screening: None.
Risk factors: Aging, weak immune system, autoimmune disorders, immunodeficiency disorders, HIV/AIDS, viral infections, prolonged exposure to pesticides, herbicides, solvents or fertilizers, previous radiation or chemotherapy.
Treatment: May include one or more of the following: chemotherapy, radiation, biological therapy using rituximab (Rituxan) or alemtuzumab (Campath), stem cell transplantation.
Latest research: Ongoing research into new or non-traditional chemotherapy drugs, such as bortezomib and thalidomide, or on new ways to combine drugs. Research also being conducted into the use of biological therapies such as rituximab, which targets lymphoma cells to the exclusion of other cells. Other areas of research include improvements in bone marrow and peripheral blood cell transplant methods, investigations into possible vaccines which would boost immune reactions. Vaccines in late stage clinical trials include MyVax and BiovaxlD.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OVARIAN CANCER
Cases per year: 2,500
Deaths: 1,700
Symptoms: Persistent and/or vague abdominal discomfort such as lower abdominal or pelvic pressure, pain, bloating or swelling, change in bowel habits, feeling full after a light meal, indigestion, flatulence, upset stomach, a feeling that bowel has not emptied, nausea, fatigue, lower back pain, leg pain, frequent or urgent urination, abnormal vaginal bleeding, menstrual disorders, pain during intercourse.
Screening: None.
Risk factors: Personal or family history of ovarian, breast, colon, uterine or pancreatic cancers, use of hormone replacement therapy (especially estrogen-only therapy), age over 50, never having been pregnant. Other possible risk factors being studied include the use of fertility drugs, certain types of diet, smoking, the use of talcum powder on the genitals, and a combination of early menstruation and late menopause.
Treatment: May include one or more of the following: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation.
Latest research: New drugs are expected to emerge from research into the genes responsible for familial ovarian cancer. In the United States and United Kingdom, research is underway into more effective methods of screening for the disease, including transvaginal ultrasounds, CA 125 testing and pelvic examination.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CERVICAL CANCER
Cases per year: 1,300
Deaths: 380
Symptoms: Abnormal vaginal bleeding, bleeding between regular menstrual periods, bleeding after sex, pain during intercourse, longer and heavier menstrual periods, bleeding after menopause, more discharge from vagina than normal, lower back or pelvic pain.
Screening: Sexually active women should have a Pap test every 1 to 3 years.
DNA tests for HPV have been shown to be more accurate than Pap tests in women over 30 years of age; however, this test is not available in all provinces, is not part of regular screening and is used in addition to, not as a replacement for, regular Pap testing.
Risk factors: Infection of the cervix with human papillomavirus (HPV), early sexual activity, having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners, smoking, having a weak immune system, prolonged use of birth control pills, giving birth often, previous use of DES or having a mother who used it.
Treatment: May include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy.
Latest research: Two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix, prevent infection by HPV and were approved for use in Canada in 2006.
Research is ongoing into more effective screening methods: liquid-based Pap tests show more promise than the currently used Pap smears.
More research is needed on how the DNA HPV test can best be included in screening programs.
All case figures are 2008 estimates for Canada from the Canadian Cancer Society
Compiled by Star Library
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/504715
LUNG CANCER
Cases per year: 11,300
Deaths: 9,200
Symptoms: Persistent cough, breathing problems, chest pain, coughing up blood, persistent hoarse voice, frequent chest infections, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite.
Screening methods: There is no general early screening method.
X-rays may detect early signs of the disease but also produce many false-positive results. The Princess Margaret Hospital is involved in an early lung cancer screening study that involves smokers and ex-smokers over 50 and uses low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans, which can show tumours in the very early stages when they are most treatable. The scans show several hundred, 1-mm-thin cross-section images of the lungs from top to bottom; a conventional X-ray only shows two views of the chest.
Risk factors: Smoking, exposure to asbestos, arsenic or radon gas, family history of lung cancer, exposure to air pollution.
Treatment: May include one or more of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, laser therapy, photodynamic therapy.
Latest research: A study funded in part by the Canadian Cancer Society has identified a set of 15 genes that may predict the aggressiveness of an early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer and identify those patients who might benefit from chemotherapy after surgery. The findings suggest that patients without this set of genes have a less aggressive cancer and could be spared chemotherapy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BREAST CANCER
Cases per year: 22,400
Deaths: 5,300
Symptoms: Lump in breast or armpit, changes in breast size or shape, skin changes on breast, redness or swelling in the affected breast, inverted nipple, crusting or scaling on the nipple.
Screening: Mammography (once every two years recommended for women ages 50 to 69); clinical breast examination (once every two years recommended for women over 40); self-examination. Women with family history of breast cancer should ask doctor about a personal plan.
Risk factors: Family history of breast or ovarian cancer, early menstruation, late menopause, having taken hormone replacement therapy for more than five years, never having given birth, giving birth for the first time over the age of 30, dense breast tissue, increased number of non-cancerous cells in the breast, radiation treatment to the chest before age 30, being over 50. Obesity, alcohol consumption and use of birth control pills may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer.
Treatment: Depends on type and stage of cancer and may involve combination of therapies. A lump-ectomy removes the tumour while conserving most of the breast. A mastectomy removes the entire breast and sometimes the lymph nodes. Radiation is used to treat many stages of breast cancer and is frequently used after a lumpectomy. Chemotherapy is used on many stages of breast cancer. Hormonal therapy is used if tumour is hormone-receptor positive. Biological therapy uses drugs to help the body's immune system fight cancer. Herceptin treats human epidermal growth-factor-positive tumours.
Latest research: Research funded by the Canadian Cancer Society includes: assessing the type of information patients require about complementary therapies, use of MRI to detect if cancer has spread, investigating whether combining various anti-cancer drugs can activate genes that prevent spread.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLORECTAL CANCER
Cases per year: 9,700
Deaths: 4,100
Symptoms: Change in bowel habits, bloody stool, diarrhea or constipation, narrower than usual stools, general abdominal dis- comfort, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, vomiting.
Screening: Fecal occult blood test every two years for those over 50.
Risk factors: Polyps, family history of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, high-fat diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, Ashkenazi descent.
Treatment: May include one or more of the following: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, biological therapy where the immune system is strengthened to boost its defences against the disease. Biological drugs can also target the cancer cells without damaging benign ones.
Latest research: Studies are being conducted into the effects of vitamin D, selenium and calcium on people with polyps. Research includes investigating links between a diet low in vitamin B1 and colon cancer risk, and how anti-cancer treatments might block genetic changes within cells.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THYROID CANCER
Cases per year: 3,400
Deaths: 110
Symptoms: A lump in front of the neck, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, hoarseness, difficulty speaking, swallowing or breathing, persistent pain in the throat or neck.
Screening: Physical examination of lymph nodes, blood tests for abnormal levels of thyroid stimulating hormone, ultrasound for examining tiny thyroid nodules, thyroid scans.
Risk factors: Exposure of thyroid gland to radiation, history of thyroid conditions such as goiture and thyroid nodules, family history of thyroid cancer.
Treatment: May include: surgery, radioactive iodine therapy, external beam radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or a combination of these.
Latest research: Recent identification of the genetic causes of inherited thyroid cancer now makes it possible to identify family members carrying the abnormal gene. Other studies involve new chemotherapy drugs which attack specific targets on cancer cells.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UTERINE CANCER
Cases per year: 4,200
Deaths: 790
Symptoms: Unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, pain during intercourse, pelvic pain.
Screening: There is no general early screening method for uterine cancer. The PAP test can occasionally detect early instances of the disease, but most cases are not found through this test.
Risk factors: Being over 50, hormone replacement therapy consisting of estrogen without progesterone, obesity, late menopause, early first menstruation, diabetes, infertility, hypertension, use of the drug tamoxifen.
Treatment: Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes) and removal of lymph nodes, radiation; hormonal therapy, chemotherapy.
Latest research: Australian research has been conducted into the role of heredity in uterine cancer and the connection between a family history of breast or ovarian cancer and an increased risk of developing uterine cancer. Other research includes: analyzing the molecular structure of cancer cells, studying the role of lifestyle in the development of uterine cancers, determining if hormone replacement therapy is safe for uterine cancer survivors.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PANCREATIC CANCER
Cases per year: 1,950
Deaths: 1,950
Symptoms: Few warning signs in early stages. Vague discomfort that comes and goes in the abdomen, pain in the upper abdomen and back, yellowing of skin, eyes and dark urine, leg swelling, increased blood sugar that can cause thirst, frequent urination, unusual weight loss, extreme fatigue, blurred vision, recurring infections, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet; digestive problems such as indigestion, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, fatty stools, flatulence, intolerance of fatty or greasy foods, bloating, belching and persistent hiccups.
Screening: None.
Risk factors: Age over 50, smoking, diet low in vegetables, fruit and fibre, obesity, workplace exposure to gasoline manufacturing process, family history of cancer.
Treatment: Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy.
Latest research: American researchers are using light-scattering techniques to detect changes in the small intestine caused by the disease. It is hoped this will enable physicians to effectively screen for pancreatic cancer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA
Cases per year: 3,200
Deaths: 1,400
Symptoms: Enlarged, usually painless lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin, unexplained weight loss, excessive sweating at night, unexplained fever, general unwell feeling, fatigue.
Screening: None.
Risk factors: Aging, weak immune system, autoimmune disorders, immunodeficiency disorders, HIV/AIDS, viral infections, prolonged exposure to pesticides, herbicides, solvents or fertilizers, previous radiation or chemotherapy.
Treatment: May include one or more of the following: chemotherapy, radiation, biological therapy using rituximab (Rituxan) or alemtuzumab (Campath), stem cell transplantation.
Latest research: Ongoing research into new or non-traditional chemotherapy drugs, such as bortezomib and thalidomide, or on new ways to combine drugs. Research also being conducted into the use of biological therapies such as rituximab, which targets lymphoma cells to the exclusion of other cells. Other areas of research include improvements in bone marrow and peripheral blood cell transplant methods, investigations into possible vaccines which would boost immune reactions. Vaccines in late stage clinical trials include MyVax and BiovaxlD.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OVARIAN CANCER
Cases per year: 2,500
Deaths: 1,700
Symptoms: Persistent and/or vague abdominal discomfort such as lower abdominal or pelvic pressure, pain, bloating or swelling, change in bowel habits, feeling full after a light meal, indigestion, flatulence, upset stomach, a feeling that bowel has not emptied, nausea, fatigue, lower back pain, leg pain, frequent or urgent urination, abnormal vaginal bleeding, menstrual disorders, pain during intercourse.
Screening: None.
Risk factors: Personal or family history of ovarian, breast, colon, uterine or pancreatic cancers, use of hormone replacement therapy (especially estrogen-only therapy), age over 50, never having been pregnant. Other possible risk factors being studied include the use of fertility drugs, certain types of diet, smoking, the use of talcum powder on the genitals, and a combination of early menstruation and late menopause.
Treatment: May include one or more of the following: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation.
Latest research: New drugs are expected to emerge from research into the genes responsible for familial ovarian cancer. In the United States and United Kingdom, research is underway into more effective methods of screening for the disease, including transvaginal ultrasounds, CA 125 testing and pelvic examination.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CERVICAL CANCER
Cases per year: 1,300
Deaths: 380
Symptoms: Abnormal vaginal bleeding, bleeding between regular menstrual periods, bleeding after sex, pain during intercourse, longer and heavier menstrual periods, bleeding after menopause, more discharge from vagina than normal, lower back or pelvic pain.
Screening: Sexually active women should have a Pap test every 1 to 3 years.
DNA tests for HPV have been shown to be more accurate than Pap tests in women over 30 years of age; however, this test is not available in all provinces, is not part of regular screening and is used in addition to, not as a replacement for, regular Pap testing.
Risk factors: Infection of the cervix with human papillomavirus (HPV), early sexual activity, having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners, smoking, having a weak immune system, prolonged use of birth control pills, giving birth often, previous use of DES or having a mother who used it.
Treatment: May include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy.
Latest research: Two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix, prevent infection by HPV and were approved for use in Canada in 2006.
Research is ongoing into more effective screening methods: liquid-based Pap tests show more promise than the currently used Pap smears.
More research is needed on how the DNA HPV test can best be included in screening programs.
All case figures are 2008 estimates for Canada from the Canadian Cancer Society
Compiled by Star Library
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/504715
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