Cancer

Early detection of the main cancers affecting women is crucial for successful treatment and recovery. Regular screening can assist early detection, increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome. It is vital that women make themselves aware of the symptoms of common female cancers and understand the risk factors.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women.

Possible symptoms

Lump in the breast
Swelling in part of or the entire breast
Skin irritation or dimpling

Risk factors

Increasing age
Genetics
Family history
Race – white women are at increased risk
Breast or nipple pain
Nipple inversion
Nipple discharge
Excessive alcohol
Obesity
High fat diet
Sedentary lifestyle

Talk with your doctor about your risk and how you can help prevent breast cancer with appropriate screening.

Did you know?

Breast cancer is the leading cancer killer among women aged 20–59 years worldwide.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women, killing more women each year than breast cancer, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer combined.

While lung cancer diagnoses have been decreasing for men, they are staying relatively stable for women.

Possible symptoms

Persistent cough
Coughing up blood
Weight loss

Risk factors

Smoking
Exposure to second hand smoke
Chest pain
Fatigue
Back pain
Exposure to radon gas and asbestos

How to: Breast self-exam

Breast health begins with a sense of what’s normal for your breasts (breast awareness).
Women should perform breast self-exams at least once a month.

Step 1

Look at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips Look for:

Any irregularities in the usual size, shape, and colour of the breasts
Distortion or swelling
Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin
Nipple inversion
Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling

Step 2

Raise your arms above your head and look for the same changes

Step 3

Squeeze the nipple and check for discharge and lumps. Look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, yellow fluid or blood).

Step 4

Lie down so the breast tissue spreads out evenly along the chest wall. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move the pads of your fingers around your right breast gently in small circular motions covering the entire breast area and armpit. Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Repeat these steps for your left breast.

Step 5

Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 4.

To promote breast health, consider doing regular breast self-exams, know what’s normal for you and when to consult your doctor. With practice, you’ll discover how your breasts vary in sensitivity and texture at different times during your menstrual cycle.

Regular mammograms are crucial, but as mammograms do not find every breast cancer, it is important for women to be aware of changes in their breasts and to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

Did you know?

40% of breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.

Preventation

Regardless of the life stage a woman is at, prevention is key to attaining and maintaining good health. Women must take time to look after themselves and be aware of lifestyle adjustments that have significant positive impacts on overall health, reduce health risk, warn about potential problems and increase longevity. Small steps can keep women on a healthier path:

Eat a healthier diet

A healthy balanced diet is essential for overall health. A main meal should consist of three-quarters vegetables, beans or grains and one-quarter meat, fish or protein, try to choose water over other beverages.

Reduce salt intake and try to avoid too many sugar rich and processed foods.

Most fruit and veg contains necessary nutrients, is low in calories and is high in fibre, ideal for maintaining or attaining a healthy weight. Aim to eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg per day with these practical tips:

Add bananas or berries to breakfast cereal
Cook more meals from scratch
Blend vegetables and beans to make soups and sauces
Keep a well-stocked and easily accessible fruit bowl

Stop smoking

If you smoke, stop today. Cigarette smoking damages almost every organ of the body, causes many diseases, and reduces the health of smokers in general. On average, smokers will die 10 years earlier than non-smokers. By quitting, smokers lower their risk for smoking-related diseases and can add years to their lives. Speak with your doctor or local smoking cessation group for advice and help on quitting.

Learn to relax

Not dealing with stress from work, family, relationships or finances can cause or worsen physical conditions.

Women must equip themselves with healthy strategies for coping with life’s ups and downs.

Get adequate sleep every night
Practice mindfulness
Practice controlled breathing
Always ask for help when needed
Talk to your doctor or someone you trust if you find stress overwhelming

Be more physically active

Making time for physical activity is very important for overall health. Maintaining a physically active lifestyle and a healthy weight reduces the risk associated with many physical and mental illnesses including, heart disease, diabetes and depression.

Aim to be active for at least 30 minutes every day with these practical tips:

Try cycling, jogging or walking part of the journey to work
Always take the stairs or walk up the escalator
Get active at lunchtime – try walking or jogging with a colleague
Allocate some time every evening for exercise – it’s good for body and mind

Drink alcohol in moderation

A glass of wine with dinner or a pint of beer after work can become a normal part of day-to-day life.

As well as contributing to unhealthy weight gain, alcohol has been linked to several chronic diseases, including some cancers.

It’s ok to have an occasional drink, but aim to

drink in moderation with these practical tips:
Drink slowly – enjoy your drink and avoid downing it too quickly
Drink smaller measures
Finish a drink before topping up – helps keep track of quantity consumed
Dilute drinks – add tonic water to spirits or lemonade to lager
Drink a glass of water between alcoholic drinks

Mental health

Women are more prone than men to experience anxiety and depression, at any age. Although the reasons why women experience higher levels of depression are unknown, many experts believe the pressures of balancing work and family responsibilities, including children as well as aging parents, may lead to added mental health burdens. Although death by suicide is higher for men, attempted suicide rates are higher for women.

Helping educate women to mental health issues, and giving them the confidence to seek assistance and speak to their doctor, is vital.

Warning signs

Persistent sadness or feelings of hopelessness
Becoming socially withdrawn
Suffering a recent life crisis
Personality changes
Feelings of worthlessness
Alcohol or drug abuse
Frequent thoughts about death
Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
Extremely high and low moods
Decreased energy or fatigue
Excessive fear or worry
Thoughts of suicide

Preventative steps

You can’t just ‘get over’ depression, it is disease which can be conquered by reaching out for some help.

Talk to your doctor
Talk to family and friends
Exercise, eat well and get plenty of sleep
Don’t ignore stress – it may be hard to avoid, but it can be dealt with
Know your limits – it is ok to ask for help
Don’t self-medicate – don’t turn to alcohol, tobacco or drugs

Your International Health Insurance Cover

Don’t feel overwhelmed by women’s health risks. Instead, do what you can to ensure you lead a healthy lifestyle. Simple preventive measures can go a long way toward reducing your health risks.

Education on health risks, helping women adopt healthy lifestyles early on and access to quality healthcare are key to a long and healthy life.

It is important that women attend regular routine check-ups with their doctor, let the doctor know if they are experiencing any changes (no matter how insignificant) and speak with the doctor about preventative tests.

“Make use of the comprehensive insurance coverage of preventative care that Allianz Worldwide Care offers – it is updated regularly to include all internationally recognised and cutting edge measures to stay healthy and lead a happy and worry free life.”

Dr Ulrike Sucher
Medical Director Allianz Partners