Prevention of breast and reproductive system cancer
What should I know?
Breast cancer is women’s most common cancer. Every year more than 13 000 women become ill in Poland, more than 5 000 of them die. Breast cancer can occur at any age. The breast is relatively easy to examine, and therefore the disease can be detected quite early. Modern methods of treating this disease allow an ill patient keep her breast, if the detection of cancer was early. All women from 40 years of age should have regular breast screening and mammograms. In the case of the patients with small breasts or the glandular breast structure, women should also have the breast ultrasound done. In addition, regular breast diagnosis is recommended to younger women who:
• have a relative with breast cancer
• use hormonal contraception
• have hormonal disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome
• have breast cysts, fibroadenomas and other breast structure disturbances.
Cervical cancer is diagnosed in over 3,000 women per year in Poland. Since its development is associated with HPV infection, which is sexually transmitted, it happens in women of any age with a peak incidence between 30 and 50 years of age. In the group of women undergoing regular cytology and gynaecological examination, the disease is usually detected in preclinical stage, often before the appearance of cancer cells. In order to identify women at risk of the disease, a test of HPV infection is also done in the cervix.
All women should have cytology done since the beginning of their sexual activity. The test should be performed every 1 -3 years, according to different recommendations. A valuable supplement of cytology is a test of HPV infection in the cervix, which helps to evaluate the risk of developing precancerous lesions. Another valuable examination in the medical evaluation of cervix is colposcopy.
The appearance of ovarian cancer more and more often exceeds the appearance of cervical cancer and endometrial cancer, especially in developed countries. Ovarian cancer mortality rate is the highest among all the reproductive system cancers. Unfortunately, there is no effective test to allow the early detection of ovarian cancer. Among the available tests, there are transvaginal ultrasonography and the test of the level of the marker CA-125.
Endometrial cancerusually manifests itself at an early stage in the form of abnormal bleeding. It is a cancer usually appearing after the menopause, in the patients with systemic diseases (diabetes, hypertension) and often obese. Owing to the fact that endometrial cancer gives early symptoms, the recovery prognosis is good, allowing more than 80% of the patients to recover. A typical early symptom of this disease is expanded endometrium detected by an ultrasound examination.
What tests should you do regularly to protect yourself against cancers of the female reproductory organs and breasts?
• breast: breast self-examination once a month (after menstruation), breast examination by a doctor once a year, breast ultrasound, mammography from 40 years of age.
• ovary: gynaecological examination, transvaginal ultrasound, CA-125 marker
• cervix: compiled gynaecological examination, cervix cytology, colposcopy
• uterine: compiled gynaecological examination, transvaginal ultrasound, uterobrush
• vulva: gynaecological examination, vulvoscopy
Colposcopy
Colposcopic examination is a medical that involves highly magnified visualisation of the vaginal cervix after an appropriate preparation. It allows, in a detailed way, to assess the place where there may be a process of development of dysplasia and cervical cancer. The test is non-invasive, painless, and lasts from a few to several minutes. If necessary, it is possible to remove the specimens from the suspected place.
Colposcopic examination is recommended for all women with abnormal results of cytology or HPV DNA test. Some medical societies recommend periodic colposcopy as a routine, safe and non-invasive check-up examination.
Picture of cervical cutaneous condition
Picture of normal cervix
Invasive cervical cancer
