Top 7 Cancers That Affect Women: How to Reduce Your Risk

Mothers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters, daughters and friends. There’s a good chance you have a woman in your life who is important to you. Their health is paramount. May 11–17 is National Women’s Health Week. It’s a great time to raise awareness of women’s health issues, especially cancer.

At AICR, we want to share information on the types of cancers that most often affect women. These include breast, skin, colorectal, endometrial, cervical, lung and ovarian cancer. Screenings play an important role in early detection of some of these types of cancer. Plus, AICR research shows that nutrition and physical activity play a role in reducing the risk of developing cancer.

Here’s more information about the types of cancer that may affect women. Share this vital information with the women in your life who you love and cherish.

Breast Cancer

Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in the United States. Most breast cancers occur after menopause. It is estimated that 316,950 new breast cancer cases will be diagnosed this year in the United States.

For postmenopausal cancers, excess body fat, adult weight gain and alcohol intake can increase risk. Breastfeeding and daily physical activity lower breast cancer risk. AICR estimates that you can reduce the risk of breast cancers by 38 percent by being active and maintaining a healthy weight.

Signs of breast cancer in women include:

• A lump in the breast or armpit
• Thickening of the breast
• Redness, irritation, pain or dimpling of skin in the nipple or breast area
• Nipple discharge (other than breast milk)
• Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.

Work with your healthcare provider to understand breast health, book a mammogram and learn how to do a breast self-exam. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all women get screened for breast cancer every other year. This should start at age 40 and continuing through age 74.

The World Cancer Research Fund International and AICR recently launched a major new report on the role of dietary and lifestyle patterns for cancer prevention.  For breast cancer incidence and mortality, the panel assessed 84 research publications and recommended dietary and lifestyle patterns for cancer prevention that include:

• Maintaining a healthy weight and regularly taking part in physical activity
• Prioritizing fruits and vegetables and fiber-containing foods
• Lowering consumption of red and processed meats and sugar-sweetened beverages
• Avoiding alcohol and smoking

Skin Cancer

About 44,410 women will be diagnosed with melanoma (a type of skin cancer) in the United States in 2025. Having lighter skin color is a major risk factor for developing melanoma.

The risk of melanoma increases with age, and the average age of diagnoses is 66. But skin cancer can still occur at younger ages too.

Sunburns are the leading cause of skin cancer. You can protect your skin from sun damage or UV (ultraviolet radiation) damage by:

• Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+ daily
• Reapplying sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or sweating
• Wearing protective clothing when out in the sun: try wide brimmed hats and long shorts/pants made from breathable fabrics
• Wearing UV-blocking sunglasses
• Staying in shady areas when the sun is strongest between 10 am and 4 pm
• Not using tanning beds

If you notice skin spots or moles that change in size or have an uneven color or shape, talk to your healthcare provider.

Colorectal Cancer

It is estimated that 71,810 cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in women this year in the United States. This is slightly lower than the rate for men.

Excess body fat is one of the strongest factors that increases risk. Other factors that increase risk of colorectal cancer are alcohol intake and eating processed meats and high amounts of red meat.

The symptoms of colorectal cancer in women include:

• Blood in the stool
• Weight loss
• Ongoing constipation or diarrhea
• Excessive fatigue
• Abdominal pain or cramping

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults aged 45 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer. Talk to your health-care provider about stool tests and colonoscopy. If you are older than 76, the decision to be screened should be made with your healthcare team.

The rate of colorectal cancer has decreased among older adults. This is likely because of screening using colonoscopy and lower rates of smoking. However, Since the 1990s, the rate of colorectal cancer has been rising steadily among adults younger than 50.

Experts don’t know what’s causing the jump in colorectal cancer among young adults. They theorize that obesity, physical inactivity and smoking increase the risk. Researchers are also looking into how diet, inflammation and damaged gut bacteria may play a role. Environmental factors—such as air and water pollution and chemicals in soil and food—are also being studied.

The WCRF and AICR report on the role of dietary and lifestyle patterns for cancer prevention analyzed 86 studies and recommended the following for reducing the risk of colorectal cancer:

• Maintaining a healthy weight and regularly taking part in physical activity
• Prioritizing fruits and vegetables, as well as fiber-containing foods
• Consuming coffee and food and beverages that contain calcium such as dairy products
• Reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol
• Avoiding smoking
• Avoiding eating processed meats

Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer affects the reproductive system. The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus (the uterus is the organ that houses a developing fetus during pregnancy). It is estimated that about 69,120 cases of endometrial cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year.

Endometrial is one of the most preventable cancers. The risk of endometrial cancers can be lowered by 59 percent by being active and maintaining a healthy weight.

AICR research shows that excess body fat is one of the strongest factors that increases risk for this cancer. A diet high in sugary foods, sugary drinks and refined flours increases the risk of endometrial cancer.

Daily physical activity reduces endometrial cancer risk. Coffee consumption also reduces risk; both decaffeinated and caffeinated coffee are beneficial.

The symptoms of endometrial cancer in women are:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting
• Abnormal non-bloody vaginal discharge
• Pelvic pain
• Weight loss
• Feeling a mass (tumor)

There is no standard screening protocol to detect endometrial cancer. If you have any of the symptoms listed above, talk to your healthcare provider.

Ovarian Cancer

Women have two ovaries, which produce eggs and hormones, such as estrogen. It is estimated that there will be 20,890 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed this year in the United States.

AICR research found that obesity links to increased risk for this cancer. The risk of ovarian cancers can be reduced by about five percent by being at a healthy weight.

Signs of ovarian cancer in women may include:

• Vaginal bleeding (other than menstruation)
• Bloating and fullness
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Back pain
• Constipation
• Frequent urination

Of course, these symptoms can also be part of many other conditions. Because of this, ovarian cancer is often not diagnosed until its late stages. It is the deadliest of the gynecological cancers. Always check with your healthcare provider if you have vague symptoms that do not go away.

Unlike screening for breast and colorectal cancer, there is no routine screening test for ovarian cancer. If you have symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider.

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed cancer in women between the ages of 35 and 44. It is estimated that about 13,360 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed in 2025 in the United States.

The most important things you can do to prevent cervical cancer are:

1. Get the HPV vaccine, if you are eligible
2. Be screened for cervical cancer according to American Cancer Society guidelines: “Screening should begin at age 25. Those aged 25 to 65 should have a primary HPV test every 5 years. If primary HPV testing is not available, screening may be done with either a co-test that combines an HPV test with a Papanicolaou (Pap) test every 5 years or a Pap test alone every 3 years.”

Cervical cancer usually has no initial symptoms, which is why screening is so important. Symptoms develop when the cancer grows. When this happens, common cervical cancer symptoms are:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• An unusual discharge from the vagina
• Pain during sex
• Pain in the pelvic region

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among women. In the United States. It is estimated that 115,970 women will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year.

The most important step you can take to reduce your risk of lung cancer is to avoid tobacco. Smoking and other tobacco use causes 90 to 95 percent of U.S. lung cancer cases every year. Eating a diet that is high in vegetables and fruits may play a role in reducing lung cancer risk.

Many people with lung cancer will not have symptoms until the cancer is advanced. At that point, signs of lung cancer in women may include:

• Cough
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Weight loss
• Coughing up blood
• Fatigue

There is no routine lung cancer screening test recommended for every American. Instead, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends yearly lung cancer screening for people who:

• Have a 20 pack per year* or more smoking history, and
• Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and
• Are between 50 and 80 years old.

*A pack per year history is smoking an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for one year. For example, a person could have a 20 pack per year history by smoking one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years.

If you fall into this group, talk to your healthcare provider about a lung CT scan.

Awareness is the first step toward cancer prevention. Encourage the women in your life to prioritize their well-being by staying informed and making healthy lifestyle choices. Together, we can reduce cancer risk and support better health for every woman.