Lung Cancer Is Not Just A Man's Disease

Lung cancer is presumed by many to be a “man’s disease”. Lung cancer is actually not only the second most common cancer in women; it is also the leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States. The incidence of lung cancer increases every year.

Exposure to certain chemicals and second hand smoking may be the cause in this case.

Symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain that gets worse on inspiration
• Fatigue
• Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
• Symptoms from other systems due to spread of the cancer from the lung.

Now that the risk factors are known, lung cancer can be prevented.

• Stop smoking
• Avoid secondhand smoke
• Healthy diet
• Exercise

Deaths from cancer worldwide have been estimated to be 13.1 million in 2030 and are projected to continue rising.

Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is the cancer of the colon (large intestine) and the rectum. It is the third most common cancer in both women and men. The risk factors for developing colorectal cancer include:

• Age (being older than 50 increases your risk)
• Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative colitis)
• Family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
• Presence of a genetic syndrome like Familial adenomatous polyposis, or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).
• Lifestyle: This plays an important role. Lack of exercise, low fiber and high fat diet, low vegetable, obesity, alcohol, and tobacco use.

Colorectal cancer is usually asymptomatic. Symptoms might start showing later a the cancer progresses. Symptoms/signs of colorectal cancer include:

• Blood in/on your stool or rectal bleeding.
• Abdominal pain
• Unexplainable weight loss.

Colorectal cancer can be prevented and early detection is the key to preventing death. Routine screening is very important especially if you have a family history of polyps or cancer. Once you turn 50, it is advisable to do a colonoscopy and depending on that result, follow up screening can be done. The risk can also be reduced by exercising, limiting/stopping alcohol use, eating less fatty foods and more fruits and vegetables.

Cervical cancer

This cancer occurs as a result of abnormal cell growth in the cervix. It is treatable if detected early. It is caused by the human papillomavirus or HPV. This virus can be gotten by having sexual intercourse with someone who has it. Many types of this virus exist but not all of them cause cancer. Some of them may not cause symptoms, so you can be infected for years and not know it. This is why it is advisable to have Pap test done yearly when you start having sexual intercourse.

Symptoms include:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Dyspareunia (pain during sex)
• Vaginal discharge

Read More: Cervical Cancer: Treatment, Symptoms and Causes

You are at an increased risk of having cervical cancer if you:

• Have the type of HPV that causes cancer
• Have multiple sex partners and have unprotected sex.
• Have an immune problem like HIV.
• Have been exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) prenatally.
• Smoke

Awareness about these cancers especially breast cancer is increasing and it is very important that we know the risks associated with these cancers. Early detection is the key to avoid cancer related deaths.