Reducing the risk of female cancers- Part 1

Sadhana and her friends have been having a discussion. ‘Is it true that the rate of cancer is going up?’ they wondered. They seem to be hearing more and more about women who are found to have cancer.

It is true that some types of cancer in women are increasing due to changing lifestyles. Overweight and obese women are twice as likely to develop uterine cancer as women of a healthy weight, due to higher than normal exposure to the hormone estrogen. Obesity is also linked to post-menopausal breast cancer. This is particularly important in the face of a recent study which shows that 60 per cent of urban Indian women are obese. It is interesting to know that a 10 kg weight loss reduces a person's risk of dying from cancer by 40%.

Can the risk of cancer be reduced?

You can reduce your risk of getting cancer by adopting a healthy lifestyle and maintaining an optimal weight. It is important to pay attention to how your body feels and looks. Having regular checkups is good insurance against advanced cancer because they help identify curable stages of cancer. Many types of cancer can be cured if they are treated early. Knowing how to prevent them or detect them early can help protect your health

What causes cancer?

Healthy cells that make up the body's tissues grow, divide, and replace themselves on a regular basis. Occasionally, these cells may start growing abnormally and go out of control. This leads to the formation of tumours or growths. Malignant tumors can invade and destroy healthy tissues and organs. Cancer cells also can spread to other parts of the body and form new tumours.

Why do cells start proliferating wildly? The risk of cancer can be genetic. In some cases, being exposed to a harmful substance such as a virus, certain chemicals, or radiation can trigger cancer. Sometimes more than one cause is involved.