World Cancer Day 2021: World Cancer Day is an initiative run by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) which is observed on February 4 every year.
As per the World Health Organisation, cancer is one of the deadliest diseases, and is responsible for one out of six deaths, making the disease cancer a globally affected disease.
To this, World Cancer Day is celebrated and observed to make the people more aware of the types of cancer, the risk and how it is caused in one body.
This year, 2021, the World Cancer Day theme is I am and I will, which implies that every action matters to combat and fight the deadly disease- cancer. There are many types of cancers in the world.
World Cancer Day 2021: Theme, history, awareness and quotes by cancer survivors
Let’s take a look at 5 most common cancers on World Cancer Day here:
Breast Cancer
One of the most common cancers to be seen in women, is breast cancer, so much so that in India alone, it infects one out of 29 women.
Risk Factors:
How to identify that you may have breast cancer:
- Family history of breast cancer
- A long period of Oral Contraceptive Pills
Symptoms:
Abnormality like a lump on the breast, change in shape or pain occurs then immediately consult a doctor.
Treatment:
Mammography is done that can detect small lesions, or lumps to find out what is going on.
MRI Breast is done for staging the disease.
Ovarian cancer
As the name suggests, it is cancer which can be found in the genitals parts of a person.
Risk Factors:
It is mostly known by the advance stages, and if you think you can get your checkups done regularly, do so.
Symptoms:
Abdominal pain, indigestion, backache can be the symptoms of this cancer.
Treatment:
- A blood test like CA125 which is found raised in ovarian cancer.
- CT Scan /MRI to know the spread of cancer
Cervical cancer
After breast cancer, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer found in women and is often found in rural women than urban women.
Risk factors:
- Young age intercourse (less than 16 years)
- Multiple Sexual partners
- Cigarette smoking
- Human papillomavirus infection (HPV)
- Immunosuppression
Symptoms:
Symptoms like abnormal bleeding, bleeding after intercourse and vaginal discharge. If you have even slightest of a hint, consult a doctor immediately.
Treatment:
· Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA)
· Visual inspection with legal Iodine (VILI)
· HPV-DNA testing
· Magnified VI! Under colposcopy
Uterine cancer
Also known as endometrial carcinoma, begins in the uterus in its lining called the endometrium- Uterine cancer
Risk Factors:
Some of the risk factors can be:
- Estrogen dependent cancer
- Polycystic ovaries
- Early-onset of periods & late menopause (after the age of 50)
- Family history of cancer uterus breast, ovary & colon
- Obesity, Hypertension & Diabetes
Symptoms:
Any ir-regulatory in the menstrual cycle, contact bleeding, post-menopausal bleeding and unhealthy vaginal discharge.
Treatment:
· Transvaginal sonography (TVS) to know endometrial thickness or irregularity.
· MRI pelvis can be done for more details
Colorectal cancer
This type of cancer originates in the colon and then from there, it spreads to the rectum which leads to colorectal cancer. Mostly found in women who are 50-years-old or above.
Risk Factors:
Some of the risk factors surrounding it are:
- Chronic constipation
- Family history of colorectal cancer
- Smoking
- Fat-rich diet
- Crohn’s disease
- Non-residual diet
Treatment:
- Stool DNA test
- CT Scan
- Frank blood in stools
