Cancer is a disease that affects many people: men and women, children, young adults, and older adults. Today, we are going to talk about three types of cancer that are more common in women: breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer. It is essential to understand them and know the symptoms of cancer to detect them early through screening tests and seek appropriate treatment.
April is Cancer Awareness Month. Learning how to take care of our health and be attentive to any signs of this illness is important. It also helps us remember that we are together in this fight against cancer and that we can support each other.
It is practically impossible to avoid cancer, but you can do things to reduce the risk of it happening to you. Medical tests can help find cancers when they are small and easier to treat. They are called screening tests. Some vaccines can prevent some types of cancer.
The most important aspect is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. You can reduce your risk of having cancer by making healthy choices. This includes maintaining a balanced diet and a healthy weight, not smoking, drinking in moderation, and protecting your skin from the sun. In addition to exercising according to your abilities and ensuring you get enough rest to promote good physical and mental health.
Getting regular medical tests can help find cancer early. When found early, treatment can be more effective. Vaccines are also effective. They are injections that can protect you against some types of cancer. For example, the vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV) can prevent cervical cancer and other types of cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine can help prevent liver cancer.
As we mentioned, there are types of cancer that are more common in women.:
1. Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is when there are bad cells that grow out of control in a woman’s breasts. This can form a lump or change the shape or size of the breast. It can also make the skin look different or make fluid come out of the nipple. To detect it early, it is important to have mammograms and regularly check your breasts for changes. If your mammogram results in a positive diagnosis of possible cancer, it is crucial that you immediately visit a medical specialist for further evaluation and a treatment plan. Treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other treatments. Eating healthily, resting, and exercising are also crucial for recovery.
2. Lung Cancer
Lung cancer in women is when bad cells grow out of control in the lungs. Some symptoms may include persistent cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and blood coughing. To find out if you have lung cancer, you can have tests like chest X-rays or scans and sometimes biopsies.
Lung cancer can affect women of any age, but it is more common in people over 45. Women who smoke or have been exposed to cigarette smoke or tobacco smoke have a higher risk.
If you are told you have lung cancer, it is essential to seek help from a specialized doctor. Treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other treatments as the doctor recommends. It is also vital to have emotional support and lifestyle changes to aid recovery.
3. Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the large intestine or rectum. It can affect men and women, usually people over 50, but sometimes younger people too. Women at higher risk of having this type of cancer are those with family members who have had it before, people with intestinal diseases like Crohn’s disease, those with poor eating habits, smokers, heavy alcohol drinkers, or those leading a sedentary lifestyle.
Symptoms may include changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, constant belly pain, feeling weak, or losing weight for no apparent reason. To detect it, doctors can perform a colonoscopy, which is an examination of the large intestine, or perform fecal occult blood tests to look for small amounts of blood that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
If you are told you have colorectal cancer, it is crucial to follow the doctor’s recommendations. Treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other treatments. Additionally, it is vital to have emotional support and make lifestyle changes, such as eating healthily and exercising, to aid recovery.
It is essential to know if anyone in your family has had cancer. If you notice anything unusual, call your doctor immediately. The most important aspect is to take care of your health and receive medical attention.
