Types of cancer in women

Cancer in the female reproductive system’s organs, including ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and endometrial cancer are cancers unique to women. Unlike them, breast cancer, although common among women, could develop in men as well, although it is a hundred times less common than in women.

The diagnosis process for all cancer tumors includes first determining the stage and ranking of the diseases by examining the tumor location, the degree of its spreading and if metastasis have spread to distant body parts. The nature of treatment will be determined according to the disease’s stage and ranking, as well as the patient’s general health condition and age.

Breast cancer

80 out of 100,000 women develop breast cancer every year in Israel. Most of the women after above 50, but about 6% of the patients are women under 40. The disease is common mostly among native Israelis, and less common among women of European, North American, Asian or African descent.

Today, 2 main surgeries are performed to treat breast cancer in women: lumpectomy and mastectomy. Lumpectomies are appropriate for mostly small tumors compared to the size of the breast, and will include resection of the tumor and part of the breast tissue around it. The original shape of the breast will be preserved as much as possible, although sometimes a certain distortion could occur, requiring partial reconstruction of lifting the breast. Therefore, breast cancers will be performed in cooperation with an expert plastic surgeon to achieve a good cosmetic result.

If lumpectomy isn’t possible, a full resection would be performed, followed by reconstruction of the breast’s nature appearance via plastic surgery.

Endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most common in the female reproductive system. Most women who develop endometrial cancer are 60-69, seemingly due to the hormonal changes after the cessation of the menstrual cycle and menopause. Excess weight is also a risk factor for endometrial cancer.

Endometrial cancer that has yet spread will mostly be treated by resection of the uterus, ovaries and tubes. In addition, the adjacent lymph nodes would be removed in order to minimize the risk for the tumor spreading. This surgery prevents recurrence of the cancer disease  in the female reproductive system. In cases where it’s impossible to remove the tumor via surgery or if the patient is young and fertile and chooses to preserve the uterus, hormonal treatment will be given during the radiation treatment stage, before the surgery.

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is the 5^th most common malignant disease in women 65 years old and up in Israel. It’s important to note that the disease isn’t exclusive to women after menopause, and there might be cases among young women as well.  Ovarian cancer is called ‘the silent killer’ since it has no characteristic symptoms. Early discovery of this disease increase survival rates to about 95%. Ovarian cancer usually begins in one of the ovaries, although it might spread quickly to the uterus and vagina and even the abdominal cavity.

Treatment of ovarian cancer will usually include surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation. If the ovarian cancer was diagnosed at a very early stage, partial resection of only the infected ovary and tube might be possible, while preserving the uterus. This way, the ability to conceive is preserved and that’s why this surgery would mostly be performed in young women in their fertile period. Should the disease spread, an adjuvant surgery to remove the uterus and the remaining ovary and tube would be performed.

Cervical cancer

Unlike other cancers, about 99% of all cervical cancer cases are attributed to the HPV virus (Human papillomavirus). Getting infected by the virus could cause the development of pre-cancerous lesions in the cervix, which might become malignant. The frequency of cervical cancer in Israel is among the lowest in the western world, although mortality rates are high. Cervicalcancer can be diagnosed early via periodic pap test. Today, there is an effective vaccine against HPV, so it’s expected that the frequency of this cancer will become even smaller. Early diagnosis of pre-cancerous lesions is a vital stage in increasing the chances to heal from cervical cancer. The earlier cervical cancer is diagnosed, the higher the chances of healing.