The incidence of cancer amongst women is rising and nearly two thirds of them can be linked to preventable causes like tobacco usage and poor dietary habits. Risk reduction involves a combination of lifestyle choices and screening tests, and awareness of personal and family medical history. The commonest cancer among women is Breast cancer as per Karnataka cancer registry. The following are the ways of reducing the risk of developing breast cancer :
- Maintaining a body mass index between 20-25 is imperative, especially in post -menopausal women.
- Regular exercise - Ideally we must aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity physical activity like walking or jogging per week.
- Limit alcohol intake to no more than 1 drink per day.
- Avoid all forms of tobacco usage.
- Breastfeeding is known to have a protective effect in reducing the risk of developing breast cancer.
Breast cancer screening - Annual mammograms usually starting at the age of 40 or earlier in women with family history. Approximately 5-8 per cent of breast cancer incidence is because of inherited genetic mutations like BRCA mutation. Hence it is important to know the family history. The second commonest cancer among women in Karnataka is cervical cancer. To reduce the risk of cervical cancer, HPV vaccination is recommended. It should ideally be administered before becoming sexually active (recommended for ages 9-26, but can be given up to age 45).Screening for cervical cancer involves doing routine Pap smears and HPV tests which typically start at the age 21.
The other cancers, which typically occur in women, include ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. Both these malignancies are indirectly related to dietary and lifestyle choices. However, specific measures to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer include :
- Childbearing and breastfeeding which may offer some protection
- In women who are known, to have high risk genetic mutations like BRCA mutation - Prophylactic surgery for removal of ovary and fallopian tubes may be offered.
Measures to reduce risk of endometrial or uterine cancer include :
- Since obesity is a major risk factor, maintaining a healthy weight is important.
- Abnormal bleeding especially after menopause is one of the earliest signs and must be quickly reported to the doctor.
Apart from these specific measures, it is important to remove the social stigma attached to cancers in women and seek help at the earliest. Awareness and screening programs help in early detection and effective treatment.