Women's Life Without Fear: Prevention of Female Cancers

Awareness of the importance of cancer prevention is growing, but still too slowly. It's natural to try to dismiss the thought of the disease and thus avoid testing. Many psychological and emotional factors contribute to this behavior. The fear of diagnosis can be overwhelming. No one wants to hear that they have the disease, especially when it has potentially serious consequences for their health or life. There's also the phenomenon of denial, which involves ignoring symptoms or convincing ourselves that everything is fine. We also neglect preventive checkups due to lack of time, family, work, and other responsibilities.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, making it a good time to take care of yourself. Everyone has a real impact on their health if they are aware of and understand the risks. In this article, we'll explain how prevention can ward off cancer.

What is prevention?

By definition, prevention is action. It's action! It aims to prevent, reduce risk, and maintain health and well-being, both physically and mentally. Prevention can take many forms, including:

Primary prevention:

These are actions taken before a disease or health problem occurs to reduce the risk of its occurrence. Examples include vaccinations against infectious diseases, health education, a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and avoiding risk factors such as smoking.

Secondary prevention:

These are steps taken after a health problem or disease occurs to detect, treat, and limit its effects. An example is a mammogram to detect breast cancer at an early stage.

Tertiary prevention:

These are actions taken to prevent complications and relapses following a health problem. An example is monitoring diabetes after treatment to avoid complications.

Breast cancer prevention in women

Breast self-examination

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Poland. The first and most basic screening procedure you should develop is breast self-examination. Start as early as possible; self-examinations should be performed starting from the age of 20.

Breast self-examination should always be performed a week after your period (self-examination, ultrasound, mammogram). Hormonal fluctuations can cause breasts to become swollen and tender before and during your period.

Mammographic examination

Mammography is an X-ray image of the breast that allows the detection of small, unpalpable cancerous lesions. Its sensitivity is estimated at 80-90%. It is considered the best way to detect early breast cancer in women over 40. Nowadays, mammography is performed using an advanced digital system, which significantly increases imaging precision and allows for the magnification of any section for more detailed analysis.

A mammogram will help you determine the likelihood of cancer in any lesion detected. The test will help you decide on your next course of action.

Ovarian cancer prevention

Ovarian cancer is extremely difficult to diagnose in its early stages because it develops asymptomatically. Awareness of the disease is low, leading to a lack of preventative measures. What are the main risk factors?

• age over 50
• going through menopause
• family history of ovarian cancer
• inherited abnormal genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) – 15% of all cases
• ovulation stimulation
• infertility, childlessness
• endometriosis
• excess body weight
• smoking cigarettes

Ovarian cancer diagnosis – genetic testing

If there is a family history of ovarian cancer, patients should undergo genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. It is estimated that over 40% of women who inherit a damaged copy of the BRCA1/2 gene will develop ovarian cancer, and approximately 70% will develop breast cancer. Individuals with a BRCA1/2 mutation also have a higher risk of developing pancreatic or prostate cancer. Molecular testing for BRCA1/2 mutations allows for early identification of mutation carrier status. Detection of a mutation in a healthy individual is an indication for oncological surveillance aimed at early cancer detection.

The main cancer prevention activities include:

• leading a healthy lifestyle
• reducing risk factors
• regular gynecological visits (including transvaginal ultrasound).

Cervical cancer prevention

Epidemiological data indicate that cervical cancer is the second most common malignant tumor in women. There is a myth surrounding cervical cancer prevention, which has been fought for many years. It is said that prevention is ineffective. This is simply not true! There are very effective methods for detecting signs of the disease at an early stage, such as cytology.

Cytology

Preventive Pap smears are a fundamental tool in preventing the development of cervical cancer. In the early stages, the cancer doesn't cause pain, but precancerous signs (known as cervical dysplasia) can appear many years before the disease is diagnosed. Regular Pap smears can detect them, thus serving as an effective weapon in the fight against cervical cancer.

HPV test

The HPV virus, also known as human papillomavirus, plays a key role in the development of many diseases. Although it is mostly responsible for benign pathologies, some of its genotypes can cause neoplastic transformation, leading to the development of precancerous conditions and, ultimately, cancer. HPV plays a particularly significant role in the development of cervical cancer in women. HPV testing aims to detect the presence of DNA from highly oncogenic HPV types. Early and accurate identification of the HPV virus allows for appropriate treatment and prevention of the disease. Infection with any of the highly oncogenic HPV types poses a high risk of developing cancer.

Prevention of female cancers involves education, regular screenings such as mammograms, Pap smears, and genetic testing, and overcoming psychological and emotional barriers. Every woman can significantly increase her chances of early detection and effective treatment. By raising awareness and encouraging active participation in prevention programs, we have the opportunity to reduce cancer-related fears and build a stronger, healthier society free from the fear of disease.

Sources:

Nelson, Heidi D., et al. “Effectiveness of breast cancer screening: systematic review and meta-analysis to update the 2009 US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation.” Annals of internal medicine 164.4 (2016): 244-255. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/full/10.7326/M15-0969 

Thomson, Cynthia A., et al. “Nutrition and physical activity cancer prevention guidelines, cancer risk, and mortality in the women's health initiative.” Cancer prevention research 7.1 (2014): 42-53. https://aacrjournals.org/cancerpreventionresearch/article/7/1/42/50200/Nutrition-and-Physical-Activity-Cancer-Prevention