Cancer control in women. Update 2003

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Global cancer burden in women is increasing, with notable rises in breast, cervix, lung, and colorectal cancers.
• Lung cancer rates in women are rising significantly, potentially surpassing breast cancer as a leading cause of cancer death globally.
• Cigarette smoking, widely adopted by women in the latter half of the 20th century, is a primary driver of these trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on the epidemiology of cancer in women.
• To identify key cancer control strategies, emphasizing prevention and screening.
• To highlight emerging roles for HPV testing in cervical cancer screening.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of epidemiological data on cancer in women.
• Analysis of trends in cancer incidence and mortality.
• Evaluation of the impact of lifestyle factors (smoking) and medical interventions (hormonal therapies, screening).

Main Results:

• Smoking cessation and prevention are paramount cancer control strategies for women.
• Screening effectively reduces incidence and mortality for cervical cancer and mortality for breast and colorectal cancers.
• Oral contraceptive use shows mixed effects: slight increase in breast cancer risk, but protective against ovarian and endometrial cancers. Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) increases endometrial and possibly breast cancer risk.

Conclusions:

• Preventing cigarette smoking and encouraging cessation are the most critical cancer control measures for women.
• Screening programs for cervical, breast, and colorectal cancers are vital.
• HPV testing shows promise for enhancing cervical cancer screening effectiveness.