“After the menopause there is an increased risk of cancer and therefore being proactive in managing a healthy lifestyle will significantly reduce this risk”.1

Women

Worldwide, what are the most common types of cancer that kill women?

According to the World Health Organization:

“Worldwide, in 2015, the 5 most common types of cancer that kill women are (in the order of frequency): breast, lung, colorectal, cervical and stomach cancers”.2

Top Three

Worldwide, what are the top three cancers in women?

In Worldwide Cancer Data: Global Cancer Statistics for the Most Common Cancers – Global Cancer Incidence In Women according to the World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRFI) “in 2018, the latest year available”:

“The top three – breast, colorectal and lung cancers – contributed 43.9% of all cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer)”.3

Breast Cancer

Worldwide, how common is breast cancer in women?

In women, according to the WCRFI:

“Breast cancer was the most common cancer in women worldwide, contributing 25.4% of the total number of new cases diagnosed in 2018”.4

Cervical Cancer

Worldwide, how common is cervical cancer?

In Cervical Cancer the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health note:

“Cervical cancer is a cancer that develops in a woman’s cervix. It is the second most common cancer experienced by women worldwide”.5

Aging

Is there an association between aging and cancer?

In Maintaining Health and Preventing Disease After the Menopause: Preventing Cancer Post Menopause the International Menopause Society elaborate on:

Cancer and Women

“With aging, the incidence of all cancers is expected to increase. For women, the most important cancers are breast, colon, endometrial, ovarian and lung cancer. Also, in the developing world cervical cancer is a major cause of death in women. Possible prevention of these cancers by lifestyle changes and appropriate screening gains more importance after menopause”.6

Risk

How may women choose to reduce their risk of cancer?

In World Menopause Day: World Menopause Day 2013 the IMS elaborate on:

“After the menopause there is an increased risk of cancer and therefore being proactive in managing a healthy lifestyle will significantly reduce this risk. Preventative strategies, such as decreasing smoking and alcohol consumption, losing weight, eating a healthy diet and undertaking physical activity, and implementation of screening could help to significantly decrease the incidence and mortality from cancer”.7

Prevention Plan

What is a cancer prevention plan for women?

In Get Checked – Women: A Cancer Prevention Plan for Women the Cancer Council Australia elaborate on:

“Finding cancer early improves your chances of successful treatment and long-term survival. Look for:

  • Lumps, sores or ulcers that don’t heal
  • unusual changes in your breasts – lumps, thickening, unusual discharge, nipples that suddenly turn inwards, changes in shape, colour or unusual pain
  • Coughs that don’t go away, show blood, or a hoarseness that hangs around
  • Weight loss that can’t be explained
  • Any loss of blood, even a few spots between periods or after they stop
  • Moles that have changed shape, size or colour, or an inflamed skin sore that hasn’t healed
  • Blood in a bowel motion
  • Persistent changes in toilet habits, or
  • Persistent abdominal pain or bloating.
 Symptoms often relate to more common, less serious health problems. However, if you notice any unusual changes, or symptoms persist, visit your doctor”.8

Health Care Provider

What if I would like to lower my risk of cancer?

If you would like to lower your risk of cancer, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. The (United States) National Cancer Institute note:

“Avoiding cancer risk factors may help prevent certain cancers. Risk factors include smoking, being overweight, and not getting enough exercise. Increasing protective factors such as quitting smoking and exercising may also help prevent some cancers. Talk to your doctor or other health care professional about how you might lower your risk of cancer”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Cancer and Women?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Cancer and Women?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.
  1. 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): 2. Myth – Breast Cancer Is the Most Common Cause of Death In Postmenopausal Women
  2. 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): 3. Misunderstanding – One-Quarter of Women Who Take MHT Get Breast Cancer
  3. About Cancer
  4. About Cancer
  5. After A Cancer Diagnosis: Follow Our Recommendations, if You Can
  6. Alcohol Calorie Calculator
  7. Alcohol Use and Cancer
  8. Alternative Cancer Treatments: 10 Options To Consider
  9. Avoid High-Calorie-Foods
  10. Be A Healthy Weight
  11. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  12. Breastcancer.org
  13. Can Cancer Be Prevented? “There Are Things You Can Do Right Now To Reduce Your Risk of Developing Cancer”
  14. Cancer
  15. Cancer A-Z
  16. Cancer Causes: Popular Myths About the Causes of Cancer
  17. Cancer Facts for Lesbians and Bisexual Women
  18. Cancer Facts for Women
  19. Cancer Prevention and Control: Healthy Choices
  20. Cancer Prevention and Control: How To Prevent Cancer or Find It Early
  21. Cancer Prevention: 7 Tips To Reduce Your Risk
  22. Cancer Research Findings [World Cancer Research Fund UK [United Kingdom]]
  23. Cancer Survivors: Care for Your Body After Treatment
  24. Cancer Survivors: Managing Your Emotions After Cancer Treatment
  25. Cancer Treatment: Coping With Hair Loss During Chemotherapy [Video]
  26. Cancer Types (Gynecologic Cancer)
  27. Cancer and Women
  28. Cancer.org [American Cancer Society]
  29. Canceradvocacy.org [United States National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship]
  30. Causes of Cancer and Reducing Your Risk
  31. Chemotherapy and Hair Loss: What To Expect During Treatment
  32. Chemotherapy and Sex: Is Sexual Activity OK During Treatment?
  33. Connect With Other Patients Who Have Fear of Cancer Recurrence
  34. Coping With Cancer
  35. Coping With Your Feelings
  36. Could This Be Cancer?
  37. Diet
  38. Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Increase Cancer Risk? Does HRT Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer?
  39. Don’t Drink Alcohol
  40. Enjoy More Grains, Veg, Fruit and Beans
  41. Exercise Calorie Calculator
  42. Fightcancer.org [Cancer Action Network, American Cancer Society]
  43. For Cancer Prevention, Don’t Rely on Supplements
  44. Foundationforwomenscancer.org [Foundation for Women’s Cancer [Gynaecologic Cancer]]
  45. General Cancer Information
  46. Get Checked – Women: A Cancer Prevention Plan for Women
  47. Get the Facts on Cancer Prevention
  48. Glossary: Definitions, & Phonetic Pronunciations
  49. Gynecologic Cancers
  50. Health Tools
  51. Healthy Choices
  52. Healthy Living
  53. Key Signs and Symptoms of Cancer
  54. Limit Alcoholic Consumption
  55. Lynchsyndrome.org.au
  56. Making Sense of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Means Understanding the Benefits As Well As the Risks
  57. Mayo Mindfulness: 1-Minute Meditations for Living with Cancer [+ Video]
  58. Menopause After Cancer
  59. Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. Is there any relationship between menopause and cancer?
  60. Menopause and Women’s Health In Later Life
  61. More Information on Cancer Drugs
  62. Move More!
  63. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms [National Cancer Institute, United States]
  64. NCI Fact Sheets [National Cancer Institute, United States]
  65. National Cancer Institute [NCI, United States]
  66. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 6 Things You Need To Know About Cancer and Complementary Health Approaches
  67. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cancer: In Depth
  68. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  69. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  70. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
  71. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Placebo Effect
  72. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Women’s Health and Complementary Approaches
  73. National LGBT Cancer Network
  74. Newly Diagnosed [Gynecologic Cancer]
  75. Nurture Your Emotional Health
  76. OCCAM Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine [National Cancer Institute, United States]
  77. Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
  78. Publications and Resources
  79. Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Cancer
  80. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [Topics]
  81. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer: Questions Women Have About Cancer, Sex, and Getting Professional Help
  82. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer: Surgery Can Affect A Woman’s Sex Life
  83. Sexual Health: Can Oral Sex Give You Cancer?
  84. Soy and Cancer Risk: Our Expert’s Advice
  85. Stay Healthy
  86. Staying Healthy During and After Cancer Treatment
  87. Tea and Cancer Prevention: Strengths and Limits of the Evidence
  88. Understanding Cancer Risk
  89. Vaginal Health After Breast Cancer: A Guide for Patients
  90. Video Series-2019 – Treatment Options for Vaginal Dryness In Survivors of Breast Cancer and In Those With A High Risk of Breast Cancer
  91. What Is Breast Cancer?
  92. What Is Lynch Syndrome?
  93. Why We Screen for Some Cancers and Not Others
  94. World Cancer Day
  95. World Cancer Day 4 February: I Am and I Will World Cancre Day
  96. Women’s Cancers [Gynecological Cancers]
  97. World Cancer Research Fund International
  98. World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research: Cancer Prevention Recommendations
  99. World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research: Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer: A Global Perspective. The Third Expert Report
  100. Your Cancer Type

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. World Menopause Day: World Menopause Day 2013. October 2013. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/world_menopause_day.php?year=2013 Accessed: 12 May 2020
  2. 10 Facts About Cancer – Fact 4: Top 5 Types of Cancer Killing Women. Updated February 2017. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/features/factfiles/cancer/en/ Accessed: 12 May 2020
  3. Worldwide Cancer Data: Global Cancer Statistics for the Most Common Cancers – Global Cancer Incidence In Women. World Cancer Research Fund International https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/cancer-trends/worldwide-cancer-data Accessed: 12 May 2020
  4. Worldwide Cancer Data: Global Cancer Statistics for the Most Common Cancers – Global Cancer Incidence In Women. World Cancer Research Fund International https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/cancer-trends/worldwide-cancer-data Accessed: 12 May 2020
  5. Cervical Cancer. Last Updated: 30 January 2020 | Last Reviewed: 23 January 2018. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/vulva-vagina-ovaries-uterus/cervical-cancer Accessed: 12 May 2020
  6. Maintaining Health and Preventing Disease After the Menopause: Preventing Cancer Post Menopause. 2014:3 International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/downloads/world_menopause_day_2014/booklets/ims_wmd_booklet_2014_english.pdf Accessed: 12 May 2020
  7. World Menopause Day: World Menopause Day 2013. October 2013. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/world_menopause_day.php?year=2013 Accessed: 12 May 2020
  8. Get Checked – Women: A Cancer Prevention Plan for Women This Page Was Last Updated on: 06 February 2019. Cancer Council Australia https://www.cancer.org.au/preventing-cancer/reduce-your-risk/get-checked-women.html Accessed: 12 May 2020
  9. Skin Cancer Prevention–Patient Version (PDQ): Skin Cancer Prevention – Avoiding Risk Factors and Increasing Protective Factors May Help Prevent Cancer. Updated: 10 April 2019. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/types/skin/patient/skin-prevention-pdq#section/_16 Accessed: 12 May 2020
Topic Last Updated: 13 June 2020 – Topic Last Reviewed: 12 May 2020
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