Certain changes in your body may be signs of cancer, including:
These are not always signs of cancer, but they can be clues that something is wrong. If you notice something different in how your body looks or feels, contact your obstetrician–gynecologist (ob-gyn).
The following lifestyle changes may reduce your risk of cancer:
Some common types of cancer in women include the following:
The main risk factors for breast cancer—being a woman and getting older—cannot be controlled. But there are some things you can do that may lower your risk of breast cancer:
Breastfeeding also may lower your risk of breast cancer.
Mammography screens for breast cancer. Finding breast cancer early makes it easier to treat. Women at average risk of breast cancer should be offered mammography starting at age 40. If you have not started screening in your 40s, you should begin having mammography no later than 50. Screening should be done every 1 to 2 years until at least 75.
Women at high risk of breast cancer, such as those with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, may need to have more frequent screening. You and your ob-gyn should talk together about what age to begin screening. See Mammography and Other Screening Tests for Breast Problems for more information.
Most cases of lung cancer are caused by cigarette smoking. The best way to protect yourself from lung cancer is to not smoke. As soon as you stop smoking, your risk will begin to decrease. You also should avoid being around people who are smoking.
Ask your ob-gyn for advice on how to quit or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. This national network for quitting smoking will connect you to counselors in your state. These counselors can offer resources and advice about quitting.
Yes. Women between ages 55 and 80 with a history of smoking should ask their ob-gyn or other health care professional about annual screening for lung cancer. Screening is recommended for women who are currently heavy smokers or who have quit within the past 15 years.
Colon cancer often begins as a polyp. Routine screenings can help detect polyps before they become cancer. Removing precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends getting a colon cancer screening test starting at age 45. These tests may include:
Tests that look through the colon with a small camera
X-ray tests
Tests that examine stool for blood or abnormal genetic material
Talk with your ob-gyn about which screening test is right for you. Also, limiting how much processed and red meat you eat and having at least 2 to 3 cups of fruits and vegetables every day may reduce your risk of colon cancer.
Most cases of cancer that affect the lining of the uterus cannot be prevented. But there are a few steps you can take that may reduce your risk:
Ovarian cancer is hard to detect, so women should be aware of changes in their bodies. See your ob-gyn if you have any of these symptoms for more than a few weeks:
There are some medical treatments that may reduce your risk.
Birth Control Pills. Using birth control pills lowers the risk of ovarian cancer. The benefit is greater if you have used the pill for several years. Talk with your ob-gyn about the possible benefits and risks of taking birth control pills.
Surgery. Women at high risk of ovarian cancer may consider surgery to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes. This surgery may reduce the risk of cancer. Women at high risk include those with a history of ovarian cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, or Lynch syndrome. The timing of surgery may depend on your desire to have children in the future. Women at average risk of ovarian cancer also may consider surgery to remove the fallopian tubes, if they are already having abdominal surgery for another reason.
If you are older than 26, have not been vaccinated, and are at risk of a new HPV infection, you and your ob-gyn can talk about whether you need the HPV vaccine. The vaccine is approved for people through age 45.
There is no screening for cancer of the vulva, so be aware of common symptoms. These include itching, burning, or abnormal skin that may be bumpy, smooth, or a different color like white, brown, or red. Precancerous changes to vulvar skin often are caused by HPV infection. You can reduce your risk of cancer of the vulva by taking the following steps:
An ob-gyn discusses coping with grief, depression, and anxiety after a miscarriage or stillbirth. Dr. Nazanin E. Silver Whether it’s miscarriage or stillbirth, pregnancy loss can be traumatic. This is true no matter how far along you are
What is a screening test? A screening test is used to find conditions in people who do not have signs or symptoms. This allows early treatment. Why is breast screening important? In the United States,
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