Women’s Cancers Affect Millions of Individuals and Families Worldwide

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. It develops when cells in the breast grow uncontrollably, most often in the milk ducts or lobules. In early stages, the cancer is confined to its place of origin. When it spreads into surrounding tissue, it becomes invasive and can spread to other parts of the body if untreated.

Colorectal cancer develops in the colon or rectum, which are part of the large intestine. It often begins as small, non-cancerous growths called polyps, which can develop into cancer over time. The disease usually develops slowly and may cause no symptoms in early stages, but wen detected early, it is often highly treatable. If left untreated, it can spread to nearby tissues or other organs.

Cervical cancer develops in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus, and is usually caused by a persistent infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted virus. The two main forms are squamous cell carcinoma, which is the most common, and adenocarcinoma, which is less common. The disease typically develops gradually from precancerous changes that can be detected and treated before cancer develops.

Endometrial cancer develops in the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) and is the most common type of uterine cancer. The two main forms are endometrioid (Type 1), which is hormone-related and usually slower growing, and non-endometrioid (Type 2), which is less common and more aggressive. Endometrial cancer often causes symptoms at an early stage, increasing the likelihood of early diagnosis.

Ovarian cancer develops when abnormal cells grow in or around the ovaries. The term includes cancers that arise in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum), as these cancers often behave similarly and are treated in similar ways.