Most Common Cancer In Women & Its Symptoms

By Dr. Hemant B. Tongaonkar in Nanavati Max Institute of Cancer Care , Gynaecological Oncology Program

Apr 24 , 2023 | 2 min read

Some cancers are considered as female cancer as they develop in a woman’s reproductive system, which involves the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix, vagina, and vulva. The most common types of gynecologic cancers are endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer. And comparatively less frequent gynecologic cancers are uterine cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer. Apart from these, breast cancer is another most frequently occurring cancer in women. In fact, breast cancer is 100 times more common in women than in men.

For complete cure and stop reoccurrences of cancer, early detection of the disease is an important criterion. Multiple screening and diagnostic techniques are in practice for the detection of different types of gynecologic cancers and breast cancer. Some of the commonly used techniques are

Pap smear, a standard screening test for cervical cancer
Mammogram, the best test to find breast cancer
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test
Endometrial biopsy
Sonography abdomen pelvis.
CA 125 a tumor marker can be used in support of diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Cancer treatments are getting better day-by-day and women have many more options today than ever before. Women with gynecologic cancer are treated in several ways depending on the type of cancer and how far it has spread. The major treatment procedures include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Generally, women with gynecologic cancer get more than one kind of treatment. Oncologists prefer to conduct surgery to remove the cancer tissues, followed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy to kill the remaining cancer cells.

Medically Reviewed

Dr. Hemant Tongaonkar (Sr Director - Urologic & Gynaecologic Oncosurgery & Head – Surgical Oncology)

Dr. Hemant Tongaonkar, Senior Director, Surgical Oncology, Nanavati Max Institute of Cancer Care is one of India's foremost Urologic and Gynaecologic Onco-surgeon. He has been rewarded with various awards including Rashtriya Rattan Award for outstanding contribution to Oncology and Dr. C. K. P. Menon Award of the Urological Society of India. Dr. Hemant Tongaonkar pursued degree of MBBS from University of Mumbai, Mumbai, MS (General Surgery) from University of Mumbai, Mumbai and Fellowship (Urologic and Gynaecologic Oncology) from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai in.