Cancer Facts, About Women
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Cancer is the second leading killer of American
women (heart disease is the number one killer). Cancer is an abnormal
growth of cells which tend to grow in an uncontrolled way, and sometimes spread
(metastasize). For more information, see the
cancer article of MedicineNet.com.
- Lung Cancer -- Since 1987, lung cancer has
been the top cancer killer among American women, with an estimated 66,000
deaths in 1999. Over the past 10 years, the mortality rate from lung cancer has declined in men
but has continued to rise in women. These alarming trends are under recognized
by women and are due almost exclusively to increased rates of cigarette
smoking in women.
It was estimated there would be 164,100 new cases in 2000, accounting for 14% of
cancer diagnoses. Since 1987, more women have died
year of lung cancer than breast cancer,
which, for over 40 years, was the major cause of cancer death in women.
- Colorectal Cancer -- Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer
deaths in American women. Although many cases are preventable with
regular screening, regular exercise, and a diet low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables, and
whole-grain foods, colorectal cancer was expected to claim the lives of
28,800 women in 1999.
- Cervical Cancer strikes up to two of every
100 women. With the advent of the Pap smear, the early detection and prevention of
cervical cancer has improved dramatically. Both the
incidence and death
rates from this disease have declined by 40 percent since the early 1970s.
- Endometrial (uterine or womb) Cancer -- It was
estimated that in the year 2000, 36,100 cases of cancer of the uterus would be diagnosed and an estimated 6,500 deaths would
Incidence rates for endometrial cancer are higher among white women (22.4
per 100,000) than among black women (15.3 per 100,000).
- Ovarian Cancer is the most deadly of all the
cancers of the female reproductive system. Symptoms often appear only in the
very advanced stages of the disease. In 1999, there were nearly 25,200
ovarian cancer cases with over 14,500 deaths. It was estimated that in 2000
there would be 23,100 new cases in the United States and, an estimated
For more information, please visit the Cancer Center
Portions of the above information has been provided
with the kind permission of The National Women's Health Information Center
Last Editorial Review: 12/19/2002