An individual’s lifestyle is a significant factor in one’s physical health. People must consider the importance of a healthy lifestyle to avoid future problems, including metabolic disease, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and others. Among these, cancer is one of the worst health problems you might encounter with an unhealthy lifestyle.
Cancer happens when the growth of cells in a specific body is uncontrollable. One famous example is gynecological cancer which usually triggers women’s reproductive organs. It has five main types, namely ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer.
With the increasing number of patients having this type of cancer, it is essential to understand and familiarize its factors and risks to the human body. Obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and smoking are the most common factors in developing gynecological cancer.
What causes gynecological cancer?
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified mucinous tumors in ovarian follicles as a disease linked to smoking in 2012. A meta-analysis showed that current smoking doubles a woman’s risk of developing the mucinous form of ovarian carcinoma. This finding was confirmed by a 2016 study that showed women who smoke cigarettes are at higher risk for gynecologic cancer than those who don’t.
Besides having ovarian cancer, people who smoke are prone to lung cancer. The World Health Organization identifies lung cancer as the second most common type of disease worldwide. Therefore, health agencies discourage individuals from using tobacco and other types of e-cigarettes to eliminate the prevalence of lung cancer in the Philippines.
Apart from smoking, here are other causes of gynecological cancer:
- Environment
- Excessive hormone exposure
- Hereditary
- Weak immune system
- Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Infection
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
Most women who have cervical precancerous tumors report no symptoms. Therefore, it is crucial to be screened regularly before any symptoms appear. The American Cancer Society recommends gynecologic carcinoma screening at 21 and a Pap test every three to four years.
To know more about the matter, here is an infographic from Hope From Within.
