Top Cancers Affecting Women

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There are 5 common cancer the affect women the most. Understanding your individual risk for these cancers is the first step in minimizing the risk and even preventing the disease. Yes, breast cancer is first on the list but you may be surprised at some of the other common cancers common in women. This subject is tough but knowledge is power when it comes to cancer. Here's what you need to know. 

1. Breast Cancer:  According to the CDC, more than two-thirds of U.S. women are considered obese. African American women have the highest rates of obesity at 47.8 percent, followed by Hispanic women at 42.5 percent. This new research is important, not only for Hispanic and African American women, but for all women. We know that genetics and family history are major risk factors for developing breast cancer. Unfortunately, these risk factors are unavoidable. Now we have evidence that obesity is another major risk factor – a factor that can be avoided.

  • Breast cancer accounted for 26 percent of female cancer cases and 15 percent of the 272,000 female cancer deaths that year. A woman’s odds of getting this cancer: 1 in 8

2. Lung Cancer: Difficulty breathing, chronic cough, rapid weight loss, chest pain and voice changes are the main risk factors for lung cancer. 

  • Lung and bronchus cancers accounted for 14 percent of female cancer cases and 26 percent of all deaths. A woman’s odds of getting this cancer: 1 in 16

 

3. Colon Cancer: Colon and rectal cancers affects 10% of female cancer cases and 9% of total deaths. About 1 in 19 women will be diagnosed. 

Risk factors include the following—

  • Age 50 and over (90% of new cases occur in people ages 50 and over)
  • Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis
  • People with an immediate family member with a history of colon cancer have 2-3 times the risk of developing colon cancer
  • African-Americans have a 20% higher risk of developing colon cancer and a 45% higher mortality rate
  • Lifestyle factors – Physical inactivity, a diet low in fruits, vegetables, fiber and high in fat, being overweight or obese, alcohol and tobacco use

4. Uterine Cancer: This cancer is more rare but obviously affects women only so being aware of the risk is critical. About 6 percent of all cancer cases and 3 percent of all deaths are from uterine cancer. 1 in 41 women will be diagnosed. Risk factors include:

  • family history
  • obesity
  • women with endometrial overgrowth (hyperplasia)
  • women who have never had children
  • menses beginning before age 12
  • menopause after age 55
  • estrogen therapy
  • prescription breast cancer drug, Tamoxifen
  • radiation to the pelvis
  • Lynch syndrome 

5. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: 4 percent of all female cancer cases and 3 percent of deaths are from this type of lymphoma. 1 in 53 women will be diagnosed. 

It is unclear what causes non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, we do know that the disease occurs when the body produces too many abnormal lymphocytes. This does not normally happen with lymphocytes. Normally, old lymphocytes undergo apoptosis (aka die). After they die, the body simply produces new lymphocytes to replace the ones that have died. When a person has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the lymphocytes do not die. Instead, they keep growing, divide, and multiply. This causes an overproduction of lymphocytes in the body which causes in an excess of white blood cells in the lymph nodes. As a result, the lymph nodes swell.