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Taking care of women's reproductive health is the key to a healthy future
of not only every family, but the whole country
Any measures aimed at early diagnosis and prevention of these conditions are at the heart of the cancer fighting strategy
WHO estimates that the number of patients diagnosed with reproductive system organ oncology is increasing by about 1.27% annually. 1

If this trend continues, the increase may be more than 33% by 2050. However, this dynamics is driven not only by higher morbidity in general, but also by better diagnostics at early stages. The top ten of cancers affecting women in Russia and worldwide includes breast, uterine and ovarian cancers.2

Relevant issues to be addressed by our society:

This is critically important now, when cancers are getting younger and manifest at an earlier age
+80% increase in the number of oncological diseases among young and middle-aged people under 50 since the 1990s 3
The reasons for the deteriorating public health are inadequate and unbalanced diets, alcohol and tobacco use, lack of physical activity and obesity 4-7

Comprehensive support for women and the provision of opportunities for timely diagnosis of precancerous lesions – the basis for a healthy future

If you notice pathological changes in time, continue monitoring those or start treatment (depending on a specific case) you can prevent complications that will develop into a malignant tumor.
The formation of malignant tumors is often preceded by precancerous pathologies

Precancerous conditions – what are those?

They are often asymptomatic for the patient, they can only be diagnosed by a doctor during an examination or tests.

These include benign neoplasms or chronic prolonged inflammation, which over time can develop into a malignant tumor – unless you take action, of course.

Tissue changes that are precancerous are not yet cancers

And although they are no trouble in the early stages, that's where the danger lies: women postpone a visit to the doctor and overlook their own health in the midst of household worries. If you routinely visit a specialist and get tests done, you can notice changes in you body in time and take action to prevent any further progress of cancer.

Why do precancerous conditions occur?

Benign neoplasms - such as breast or cervical dysplasia - are common: they can occur in 50-60% of women, depending on their age. 8

These phenomena are hormone-dependent and can occur due to an endocrine system malfunction, in particular, too much or too little estrogen. Women with the history of cancers in their family are at risk as well – more frequent monitoring by specialists is essential in this case. 9
more than 50% of women may have benign neoplasms 8

Precancerous conditions of the female reproductive system: what are they and what are they associated with?

Precancerous breast conditions

Precancerous cervical conditions

Precancerous conditions of the uterine body (endometrium) and ovaries

Precancerous conditions of the mammary glands

Breast dysplasia means changes in tissues that can contribute to the development of tumor cells. These tissue changes are often driven by the fluctuations in the level of estrogens in the body and if left untreated can develop into cancer. 10

The development of benign mammary dysplasia (BMD) or mastopathy, as this disease is also called, can be driven by various factors, including:

  • hormonal changes caused by endocrine disorders, age-related changes, employment in hazardous industries
  • genetic predisposition – cancers diagnozed in close family members
  • pregnancy after the age of 30, no breastfeeding, abortions or pregnancy pathologies
  • long–term effects of estrogens on the body: early menstruation – before the age of 12, and late menopause - after the age of 55 11

Benign mammary dysplasia is observed in 80% of women 12

up to 5 times

higher risk of breast cancer
if mastopathy is diagnozed 13

in 30-40 times

higher risk of breast cancer if fibroadenomas, intraductal
papillomas and lipomas are diagnozed 14

What can be done?

The early stages of breast cancer (BC) and the conditions preceding these are often asymptomatic — they can only be detected during examination, therefore it is essential to:

  • do monthly self-examination (palpation) for nodes, painful thickenings in the breast
  • undergo breast ultrasound once a year - for women with close relatives who have had cancer
  • undergo mammography of both mammary glands in two projections once every 2 years from the age of 40 15
  • undergo breast ultrasound every 2 years - for women under 40 if there are no complaints and cancers in the family's medical history
  • have annual checkups with a gynecologist

A gynecologist, a mammologist, a physician, an ultrasound doctor, a radiologist, and an oncologist participate in the diagnosis of breast cancer – proper routing of the patient increases the likelihood of timely diagnosis and effective treatment

Modern medicine not only successfully copes with breast cancer in the early stages, but also helps prevent benign tumors from turning into malignant ones.

For this purpose, there are various medicines with the indication 'mastopathy', which can be prescribed by a specialist, as well as specialized nutrients. Therefore, it is important to undergo regular screening in order to timely notice the process of breast cell division, slow down or stop it.

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Precancerous cervical conditions

Cervical dysplasia (CD) is a pathological condition that is not yet cancerous, but can lead to a malignant transformation. With dysplasia, cells are already beginning to change due to chronic inflammatory processes, hormonal disorders or immune status, but this process can be stopped before it develops into a cancer. 16

The main factor in the development of cervical cancer is HPV (human papillomavirus) 17

The possible causes of transmission and development of infection can be:

  • traumatic injuries of the cervix, for example, during abortion 18
  • cervical dysplasia
  • early onset of sexual activity
  • frequent change of sexual partners
  • sexually transmitted infections
  • smoking cigarettes and vapes that have a negative effect on the immune system
in 99,7%
of cases

cervical cancers are linked to HPV 19

Low awareness of preventive measures for the pre-cancers of the cervix is a critically important issue

Women have little to no awareness about cervical cancer being a potentially preventable disease. The development of cervical cancer is associated with the presence of HPV. Timely detection of cervical dysplasia at an asymptomatic stage and timely treatment may help prevent a malignant transformation.

only 15% of women
correctly indicate that HPV is the main factor in the development of cervical cancer 20

What can be done?

It is impossible to determine the conditions preceding cervical cancer on your own, therefore it is essential to:

  • annually undergo a preventive screening done by a gynecologist
  • undergo a colposcopic examination in case of detected changes – as per doctor's instructions
  • undergo annual cytological screening for abnormal cells
  • HPV vaccination, which is also one of the methods of preventing cervical cancer, can be done at the age of 9 to 45 if there is no virus detected

No symptoms or complaints are not a legitimate reason to skip a visit to a specialist.

Asymptomatic disease can be deceptive, and then valuable time is lost.

In the meantime, Russia has effective surgical methods and medications with targeted effect against precancerous conditions of the cervix with HPV infection - the above solutions help successfully target dysplasia.

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Precancerous conditions of the endometrium and ovaries

Cancers of the uterus and ovaries are among the 10 most common cancers in women. 21 Unlike breast and cervical cancers, these are often accompanied by concomitant diseases that lead to malignant tumors.

up to 30% of women
are diagnosed with uterine myoma every year 22
  10% of women
of reproductive age and nearly 50% of women with infertility are diagnosed with endometriosis each year 23
up to 40% of women
suffer from endometrial hyperplasia 24

Causes of uterine body (endometrial) cancer and ovarian cancer: 25

  • myomas are benign tumors in the uterine body
  • adenomyosis is a chronic disease that is associated with the endometrial tissue growing into the muscular wall of the uterus
  • endometrial hyperplasia is a pathological overgrowth of the endometrium, which can eventually undergo a malignant transformation
  • menorrhagia is excessive blood loss during menstruation caused by the irregular secretory function of the ovaries
  • endometriosis is a chronic disease associated with the growth of the tissue of the uterine mucosa (endometrium) outside the uterus

Hormonal imbalance is the main cause of cancer of the reproductive system

Hormonal imbalance is the main cause of cancer of the reproductive system. 26

Estrogens make a woman a woman. Lack or excess of these hormones affects the entire reproductive system, including the development of precancerous and atypical conditions. Some pathological changes, such as benign myomas and cysts, can be surgically removed. But without the normalization of hormonal imbalances, these treatments will not work long-term: the body will continue its "faulty" operation thus contributing to the development of repeated neoplasms.

What can be done?

The best way to prevent the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer is to systematically visit a gynecologist and undergo regular examinations.

What else is important to pay attention to: 

  • taking oral contraceptives: only after endocrine tests and only as prescribed by a gynecologist
  • weight control: it is known that obesity can be one of the risk factors for uterine cancers
  • active lifestyle
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HORMONAL IMBALANCE IS THE CAUSE OF PRECANCEROUS CONDITIONS

Estrogens are female sex hormones defining the ability to conceive and bear a child, mental and emotional state, formation of the skeleton and secondary sexual characteristics, blood quality and density of vascular walls, skin health and general mood.
The main reason for the development of precancerous conditions is an imbalance between two types of hormones: estrogen and progesterone 26

What could be the reason for the estrogen and progesterone imbalances?

Only lab tests can accurately determine the levels of various hormones in the body, however, there are symptoms that can signal failures:

Do not miss the symptoms of hormonal disorders:

excess estrogen in the body can cause the development of endometriosis, myoma, mastitis and other diseases.
Early treatment of conditions associated with estrogen level disorders can prevent their worsening.

If you notice these changes, see a specialist and undergo the necessary examinations. After determining the level of hormones, the doctor can prescribe therapy.

Prevention and detection of conditions associated with hormonal imbalance (estrogen and progesterone)

Correction of hormonal disorders is possible as indicated by a medical specialist

Specific treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor based on the results of an examination and tests performed, but the following general recommendations can be useful to all women:

The balance of sex hormones is a prerequisite for normal functioning of all organs and systems of the female body

Pathologies develop both in case of estrogen deficiency and in case of its excessive amount. External signs can signal changes in the body, but only regular examination of the body - at least once a year - will allow to assess the real picture, timely diagnose precancerous conditions and prevent the development of malignant neoplasms.
medical exam at least once a year

Sources cited:

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