GENDER AND CANCER:The Trend of Mortality Rates from Cancer

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Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)

Lesson 37

GENDER AND CANCER

Cancer is another major killer of today. It is the second biggest cause of death. It is a disease, that frightens

everyone, and that is considered to be a deadly condition. The very idea of developing cancer scares people

because of the poor prognosis in most cases, the painful conditions in cancer, and the painful and complicated

treatment.

In our discussion on cancer, we will not go into the extensive details of what cancer is and how it is caused and

treated. We will go through the general nature and risk factors involved very briefly. Our major focus will be

the cancers specific to either men or women. Some cancers may attack just any one, but some occur in men

alone, or in women only.

What is Cancer??

Cancer is not one disease if one were to look into its development, symptoms or impact. It is a set of a number

of diseases, more than 100 may be, that share a number of factors. No matter what type, all cancers are a result

of a dysfunction in DNA.

In simplest terms cancer can be defined as an uncontrollable growth and spread of abnormal cells that turn

into tumors (Brownson, Reif, Alavanja, and Bal, 1993). The presence of neoplastic cells characterizes cancer.

These cells form colonies at various sites in the body.

These colonies or tumors may be of either of two types:

Benign

Malignant

Benign neoplasm's are not harmful, or cancerous. Malignant neoplasm or tumors are the cancer growths.

Malignant cells damage and destroy the neighboring cells and may metastasize or travel to other locations in the

body through blood or lymph.

Types of Cancer

The types of cancer are determined on the basis of the site where the neoplastic tissues develop:

The common types of cancer are:

Type

Site

Breast cancer

Breast

Cervical and uterine cancer

Cervix and uterus

Prostate cancer

The prostate gland

Skin cancer

Skin

Lung cancer

Lungs

Colorectal cancer

Colon or rectum

Leukemia

Blood

The varieties of cancer can be many more than these. Research has shown that some cancers are specific to

men and some to women alone. Besides, some cancers are found more commonly in men and some in women.

The Center for Disease Control (2003), U.S.A, has given a list of most common cancers in men and women.

Cancers found most commonly in men:

Prostate

ii.

Lung

iii.

Colon

iv.

Urinary and bladder

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

vi.

Rectal

vii.

Oral cavity

viii.

Leukemia

ix.

Pancreatic

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Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)

x. Stomach

Cancers found most commonly in women:

Breast

ii.

Lung

iii.

Colon

iv.

Uterine

Ovarian

vi.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

vii.

Skin Melanoma

viii.

Rectal

ix.

Cervical

Pancreatic

The Trend of Mortality Rates from Cancer

Brannon and Fiest (2000) have given a comprehensive account of the changing mortality rates from cancer.

For the major part of the 20th century, the overall mortality rates in the US were on the increase until 1993.

These rates had risen almost three times from 1990 to 1993.

The rates began to decline after 1993. During 1993- 1996, the rate showed a downward trend.

Research evidence shows that the rate of lung cancer has been dropping for men and is on an increase for

women.

The 5-year survival rate has improved for most cancers. This improvement is more prominent in case of breast

cancer.

Smoking: a major risk factor

There is no dearth of evidence suggesting that cigarette smoking is on of the confirmed major risk factors in

cancer, for both men and women.

Cigarette smoking has been found to be directly linked with lung cancer in both sexes. This habit has such a

serious impact that researchers are now concentrating upon the risk to the well being of passive smokers.

Cigarette smoking is a significant risk factor in breast cancer too. it is not only hazardous to the female smoker

but also those women who live with smokers.

The risk for breast cancer incidence and breast cancer mortality is dose- related.

Research has revealed that a 75% increase in breast cancer was noted in women who soked 40 or more

cigarettes a day. The increase was only 20% for women who smoked 10-19 cigarettes a day ( Calle, Miracle- Mc

Mahill, Thun, & Heath, 1994).

Research also suggests that the age of initiating smoking, as well as the number of years smoked, is also

significant contributory factors.

The Significance of Early Detection:

Modern medical research and practice have shown that in many cancers, an early detection is possible that

ensures a very good prognosis and survival rate.

In case of at least two cancers i.e., breast and of testes, a self- examination can help in a very good, first stage,

early detection.

Females all over the world are advised to perform breast Self examination (BSE) once every month so that any

change or growth is promptly detected.

Similarly men are advised to self-examine testes regularly, to detect any change or growth.

In most early detected cancers, the patients have detected, noticed, or suspected the change themselves.

Effective screening facilities are also available for a number of cancers. These can identify any growth at a very

initial stage.

Mammography or mammogram is the x- ray performed for detecting breast cancer.

Women, especially those above 40 years of age are recommended to have a yearly mammogram.

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Gender Issues In Psychology (PSY - 512)

For the detection of cervical cancer, a small, easy and painless i.e., pap test or pap smear, is highly

effective. An early detection in this case can ensure total cure.

Women, 35 or above are recommended to have a pap test yearly, and at times even six monthly.

Ultrasound is also used for detecting any growth in the breasts.

Screening facilities, some diagnostic tests, are also available in most well equipped pathological labs

for detecting prostate cancer.

Colo- rectal cancer can be detected early through various screening techniques, including endoscopy.

In case of lung cancer it can be detected early if changes in voice, cough pattern, or breathing are

noticed and reported to a physician in time.

The purpose of this description of screening approaches is to make you realize that an early detection of cancer

can be made, and this is not something impossible that many people believe it to be.

What is required is a regular practice of self- examination, an a prompt medical consultation in case of any

lingering changes in the body.

What needs to be done???

Efforts at broad community level are required for sensitizing people about the nature of cancer, the risk factors

involved, the symptoms, the significance of early detection and prompt medical advice.

Awareness campaigns involving electronic media can prove to be helpful.

The female segment of the population deserves special attention because a majority of women in our culture

are not educated and can not benefit from the available health education literature.

Also, many women hesitate, and feel embarrassment, in disclosing any changes in their body to others, which is

one of the causes of delayed diagnosis.

Men on the other hand tend to postpone doctor's consultation.

Therefore involving TV and radio in health education campaigns may be a good approach for reaching the

unrelated people at risk.

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