Cancer is a deadly disease. It involves a multistage process pertaining to abnormal and uncontrolled growth and proliferation. It has, for many years, been considered one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally. Traditionally, cancer was more frequently reported among males than among females, and possible factors may involve lifestyle that presents with higher incidence rates of smoking and alcoholism among males. However, the trend is disturbing; in the last few years, more young females than their male counterparts have been diagnosed with cancer. The article discusses the general features of the disease, reviews statistics worldwide, delves into the reasons for the ever-rising cases of females and concludes with the pressing concern.
Cancer: A Brief Overview
Cancer is a family of diseases; cell division turns rogue and becomes disorganized. It usually invades other tissues causing secondary tumors. Most commonly, these malignant cells infiltrate other tissues leading to additional site or organ manifestations. Cancer is a consequence of a series of genetic mutations and exposures to the environment that can transform a normal cell into a malignant one. The main risk factors include smoking tobacco, an unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle, infections, and exposure to carcinogens. Although manifestations of cancer vary, often leading to wide distributions based on types and locations, it brings a huge scope of variations in symptomatology and, hence, a distinct prognosis.World Cancer Trends and Statistics
As estimated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC, it is stated that nearly 19.3 million new cases of cancer and 10 million deaths in 2020 resulted from cancer. It is earlier thought that men’s cases have many more instances in cancer cases against the countable numbers found in women’s cases. As such, today there is an equal trend with age reversals reportedly stated against years collected. According to the report by the American Cancer Society, cancer development among females under the age of 50 years has been higher as compared to their male counterparts. The percentage has increased up to 82% in the latest statistics as against 51% in 2002. In most of the increased cancers in women, breast and thyroid cancers are majorly noticed.Why Cancer Diagnosis Among Women is Twice That Among Men
There are many reasons why the number of cancer diagnoses is twice as high in women than in men, and some of them are as follows:- Biological Variations: Sex has differences wherein hormones contribute so much towards various diseases, like cancer. For example, there have been breast cancer and ovarian cancer that have resulted directly from exposure to women’s estrogen. As such, beyond hormonal and genetic, there exist pre-dispositions.
- Screening and Early Detection: Today, the screening programmes for women are really much better, like the mammogram in the case of breast cancer or Pap smear for cervical cases. These result in early detection which, in turn, leads to increased reporting.
- Health care utilization: Women are more health-conscious. They get consultations more frequently than men for their medical conditions and, under the present scenario, they also take preventive measures at regular intervals; hence, the probability is more in the case of diagnosis.
Female cancer incidence rates by lifestyle behaviours
Though smoking and alcohol consumption are much higher in men, which has eventually resulted in increased cases of cancers too, these are now moving backwards:- Lifestyle Changes: Over the past decades, smoking and alcohol consumption have been rising among women; hence, incidence rates for cancers such as lung and liver continue to rise. According to the American Cancer Society, trends are attributed to lifestyle changes where women have increased alcohol intake.
- Obesity and Sedentary Lifestyle: With this trend of prevalence, obesity among women and also sedentary lifestyle, increased levels of multiple types of cancers have been observed and diagnosed.
- Reproductive Factors: The increasing trend in delayed childbearing and fewer childbirths has been linked to an increased susceptibility to some cancers, like breast cancer. This pattern of reproduction continues to be increasingly observed among contemporary populations and further exposes women to the risk of contracting cancer.
Conclusion
This changing profile of cancer incidence strongly suggests a rationale to focus on more effective public health interventions. Elimination of potential risk factors through enhanced screening practices and lifestyle modification forms the basis for the major intervention steps needed to arrest this drift. Such changes have been produced by mechanisms that future scientific studies will hold the vital key in formulating successful prevention as well as management programs that can ease the cancer load on all sectors.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Cancer is a term or a better common name for a group of diseases characterised by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Indeed, it arises because of mutations in genes in the regulatory process of normal cell growth leading to uncontrolled proliferation. In time, such abnormal cells could invade other tissues and parts of the body.
This upward trend can be attributed to factors behind various types of forms: shifts in reproductive and lifestyle patterns, obesity, and other altered habits like binge drinking besides hormonal causes. The technological progress that has percolated down to screen for this condition ensures that this disease now presents at an earlier age.
The common cancers in females are breast, thyroid, ovarian, uterine, and cervical. Breast cancer is the most common of all female patients. In fact, these cancers account for the largest percentage of total diagnoses.
Although men have engaged in more risky behaviours, such as smoking, this gap is rapidly narrowing as social attitudes change. In addition, biological and hormonal differences, a factor in reproduction, and a superior history of established screening programs among women enhance cancer case reporting among women.
Healthy lifestyle activities that avoid cancer in women include:
- No smoking and less alcohol
- Maintain appropriate body weights through a well-balanced diet and regular exercise
- Undergo recommended screening for cancer Manage stress well and sleep adequately
- Be able to trace family history or medical background to understand the potential genetic risk factors.