Cancer Types in Women

There are a group of cancer types in women that affect the tissues and organs of their reproductive system that are known as gynecological cancer. These types of cancers in women are named according to the organ it affects. In this article you will learn about the various types of women's cancer that affect the female body.

What is Cancer

Cancer is a disease wherein the abnormal cells divide without any control. This causes them to invade other tissues and spread to other parts of the body through lymph and blood system. There are over 100 different types of cancers and it is not one disease but many diseases. When a mass of cell divide uncontrollably, they form a mass of cell called a tumor. Not all tumors are cancerous and are divided into benign and malignant tumors.

Benign tumors are those that can be surgically removed and may never come back again. They also normally do not spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are the dangerous lot that are cancerous and spread to other parts of the body. When they spread from one part of the body to another, it is called metastasis.

Types of Cancer in Women

There are various cancer types in women that can affect a woman. The various types of women's cancers are:

• Breast Cancer
• Cervical Cancer
• Endometrial Cancer
• Gestational Trophoblastic Tumor
• Ovarian Cancer
• Uterine Cancer
• Vaginal Cancer
• Vulvar Cancer

The following explanation will help you get a general idea regarding each cancer types in women.

Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer types in women and the leading cause of death by cancer in women of 40 to 55 years. The most common form of breast cancer is of the ducts, that conducts fluids, connect the lobes and lobules. The lobular cancer is found in both breasts as compared to other forms of breast cancer. The inflammatory breast cancer is very uncommon and one finds the breast to be warm, swollen and reddish in color. One needs to detect breast cancer as early as possible to increase the survival rates. You should carry out self breast examination monthly and get regular check up by a doctor. Remember, all women are at risk of developing breast cancer and over 70% have no identifiable risk factors.

Cervical Cancer
There are over 11,000 women in America who develop cervical cancer and about 3,700 lose their lives to this cancer types in women. There are over 90% of cervical cancers that develop in the lining of the cervix and called squamous cell carcinoma. The glandular tissue, also known as adenocarcinoma form about 5 to 9% of the cervical cancer types. Adenocarcinoma are divided into different types, endocervical cell type, endometrioid cancer, clear cell carcinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas. Small cell carcinoma and cervical sarcoma are two rare types of cervical carcinoma. It is usually transmitted sexually and human papillomavirus is said to be the main causative agent. You need to get regular PAP smears conducted to screen out cervical cancer. All sexually active women, with multiple sex partners need to have a PAP smear annually. In case of women in long-term relationships with one partner need to get it tested less often after getting a negative test for three continuous years.

Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer is one of the types of cancer in women that develops in the uterus. The cancer develops in the inner lining of the uterus. Adenocarcinoma forms about 75% of all endometrial cancers. Adenocanthomas carcinomas is a type of benign endometrial adenocarcinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas are malignant squamous cell types. Abnormal uterine bleeding that varies from insignificant staining to hemorrhage is a sign of endometrial cancer. One may also experience pain in pelvis, back, legs, bladder or rectal symptoms, weight loss and weakness as signs of endometrial cancer.

Gestational Trophoblastic Tumor
The abnormal growth of the placenta is called gestational trophoblastic tumor. These tumors are associated with pregnancies and four gestational cancer types in women. The hydatidiform mole or the molar pregnancy, the invasive mole or chorioadenoma destruens, gestational choriocarcinoma,and placental site trophoblastic disease are the four types of tumors.

Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is the fourth cause of death in women in America and one in 70 develop it and one in 100 women die from this type of cancer in women. Epithelial carcinoma is the most common form of ovarian cancer that develops on the cells covering the surface of the ovary. There are five major types of epithelial carcinoma called serous, mucinous, endometrioid, clear cell and undifferentiated carcinomas. The other two major kinds of ovarian cancers are germ cell tumors affecting the eggs and ovarian stromal tumors that arise from supportive tissue. The ovarian stromal tissues are very rare. There are no symptoms associated with the early stages of ovarian cancers and by the time cancer is detected, it may have reached the advanced stage.

Vaginal Cancer
Vaginal cancer is one of the most rare form of cancer and affects only about 2,000 women in America per year. The squamous cell tumors that develop in the surface of the cell lining of vagina is the most common form. The other vaginal cancers are glandular tissues, melanoma, sarcomas and endodermal sinus tumor. The main cause of vaginal cancers is human papillomavirus (HPV) that is sexually transmitted virus and associated with genital warts.

Uterine Cancer
Uterine sarcoma are another type of uterine malignancy. Cancer of the uterus is called the uterine cancer. Endometrial cancer is a type of uterine cancer. The other uterine cancer types in women are uterine carcinoma that has characteristics of cancer in tissues and carcinoma, that is, cancer of the cell lining. Uterine adenosarcoma is a rare form of cancer in the endometrium and has cancerous as well non cancerous tumor cells.

Vulvar Cancer
The vulvar cancer is cancer that develops in vulva. It is a very rare form of cancer with only about 4% women developing vulvar cancer in America. When detected in its early stages, the vulvar cancer is highly curable.

This was about the various types of women's cancer in short. You need to get regular physical check ups to diagnose cancer as early as possible. You should do this especially, if you have a family history of cancers, especially breast cancer and cervical cancers. This article is only an introduction to the various types of cancers in women. If you have any doubts regarding any form of cancer, be sure to ask a doctor for help. I hope this article on cancer types in women, helped you know about the gynecological group of cancers affecting women.