According to a report by FICCI and Ernst & Young (EY), India’s real cancer incidence for women is estimated at 1 to 1.4 million cases per year. The same report states that in 2015, cancers of the breast (19%), cervix uteri (14%) and ovary (7%) contributed to 40% of all cancers among women. Presently, Indian women have the third-highest number of cancers, just after the USA and China. 

5 Common Cancers That All Women Should Be Aware Of 

1. Breast Cancer

   
   
   
   Breast cancer occurs when the cells in the breast grow uncontrollably or abnormally. This is the most common of all cancers that occur in women. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in its 2016 report titled ‘Consensus Management for Breast Cancer’ stated that close to 1,44,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Doctors say that for every two women diagnosed, one woman dies of the disease. 
   
   

2. Cervical Cancer 

   
   Cervical cancer starts from the cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus. Though the average age at which it is detected is 38, cervical cancer can be detected in girls as young as 15 years.  The National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) reported that in India, one woman succumbs to cervical cancer every 8 minutes. Cervical cancer is caused by the HPV Virus (Human Papilloma Virus) and is transmitted through sexual intercourse. 
   
   

3. Ovarian Cancer

   
   Cancer in the ovaries, the female organ that produces eggs, may be diagnosed late because the symptoms often go undetected. Patients ignore the early and non-specific symptoms of the disease like bloating, distension and heaviness in the lower abdomen. Late diagnosis of ovarian cancer means fertility in women of childbearing age could be affected; there is also a lower survival rate. 
   
   

4. Uterine Cancer

   
   Uterine cancer, also known as cancer of the endometrium, starts in the inner lining of the uterus. Endometrioid tumours are often detected early because of the abnormal bleeding that comes with them. Doctors say that if patients are detected in Stage 1, when the cancer is often localised, surgically removing the uterus often cures the cancer and the 5-year survival rate goes up to approximately 95%. 
   

5. Colorectal Cancer (CRC)

   
   This cancer develops in the colon and/or rectum, both of which are part of the digestive tract.
   
   Environmental and genetic factors can increase the likelihood of developing CRC. Although genetic predispositions are the most common risk factors, doctors say that the majority of CRCs are sporadic, and may not be due to inherited susceptibility. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

 

Screening Tests to Detect Cancer in Women

Regular screening in women can detect premature symptoms of cancer and can lead to effective treatment outcomes. 

1. Breast Cancer

   
   
   
   
   • Self-examination: 20 years and older
   • For a woman who is older than 40 years of age, the early screening protocol is as follows:
     • A yearly examination by a qualified and trained medical personnel is a must.
     • From 40 to 50 years of age, yearly mammography is recommended.
     • After 50 years of age, mammography may be done every 2 years.
     • Women with certain risk factors like family history, obesity, hormone replacement therapy, and other medical conditions will have to follow doctors instructions on their screenings.
                                

2. Cervical Cancer

    

   AGE	TESTS	ADDITIONAL TESTS
   <21 years	No screening - Sexual history is not a consideration
   21-29 years	Cytology every 3 years. (A cytology is where cells are examined for diagnosing and screening diseases).  In cytology, the pap smear is one of the most common cytology based screenings for cervical cancer
   30-65 years	Preferred: Co-testing HPV and cytology every 5 years   Acceptable: Cytology alone every 3 years
   >65 years	Screening can be discontinued after either three consecutive negative cytology tests or two negative cytology and HPV tests within 10 years, provided the most recent test was within 5 years	Women with a history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2, CIN 3, or adenocarcinoma in situ should continue routine age-based screening for at least 20 years
   After total hysterectomy	No screening necessary	Applies to women without a cervix and without a history of CIN 2, CIN 3, adenocarcinoma in situ, or cancer in the past 20 years
   After HPV vaccination	Follow the same age-specific recommendations as unvaccinated women

    

3. Ovarian Cancer  
   
   

   • It is not clear who should be screened for ovarian cancer. For now, experts agree that:

   • Women with the highest risk and who must get screened include those who have had genetic tests showing that they:

   • Carry genes known as the ‘BRCA’ genes

   • Have a genetic condition called Lynch Syndrome (also called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer or "HNPCC")

   • Women who have a family history of ovarian cancer or a gene that increases their chances of getting ovarian cancer, should opt for screenings.

   • Women who are at low risk for ovarian cancer do not need to be screened. This includes women who do not have a family history of ovarian cancer or have verified through gene testing that they do not have the cancer gene present in their bodies. 
     
     

4. Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer  

   
   Strategies for screening and prevention of endometrial cancer include

   1. Endometrial sampling

   2. Risk-reducing hysterectomy
      
      However, routine screening for endometrial carcinoma for most women is not recommended. Women with Lynch Syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer), have a lifetime risk of endometrial cancer of 27% -71% compared to 3% of the general population and must be tested. 
      
      

5. Colorectal Cancer

    
   Women with an average risk of colorectal cancer should begin screening at age 50. Any one of the following screening strategies is recommended :

   1. Colonoscopy: Every 10 years.

   2. Computed tomographic colonography (CTC): Every 5 years.

   3. Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, with or without an immunochemical stool test.

   4. Stool testing every year (for guaiac and immunochemical occult blood test).