DOI: 10.31038/IGOJ.2022511

Abstract

Considering the medical, economic and social importance of genital cancer occurring in men and in women, with a world-wide distribution, we have as objectives in this manuscript to contribute to the knowledge of the factors that constitute a risk for genital cancer and its principal consequences in the infected persons.

Keywords

Genital cancer, Carcinoma, Sarcoma, Metastasis, Breast and fallopian tubes cancer, Gynecology

Introduction

Cancer is any “malignant” tumor, including carcinoma and sarcoma. It arises from abnormal and uncontrolled division of cells that then invade and destroy the surrounding tissues. Spread of cancer cells (metastasis) may occur via the bloodstream or the lymphatic canal or across body cavities such as the pleura and peritoneal spaces, thus setting up secondary tumors at sites distant from the original tumors. Each individual primary tumor has its own pattern of local behavior and metastasis; for example, bone metastasis is very common in breast cancer, but very rare in the cancer of the ovary.

There are, probably, many causative factors some of which are known; for example, cigarette smoking is associated with lung cancer, radiation with some bone sarcoma and leukemia. Some tumors, such as retinoblastoma are inherited.

Treatment of cancer depends on the type of tumor, the site of the primary tumor, and the extent of spread. In a general context, according [1] “cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. The most common in 2020 (in terms of new cases of cancer) were: 1. Breast (2.26 million cases); 2. Lung (2.21 million cases); 3. Colon and rectum (1.93 million cases); 4. Prostate (1.41 million cases); 5. Skin (non-melanoma)”.

Between the cancer risks, there are some that can be changed and others like the age or family history can’t be changed.

For this manuscript we have selected: prostate cancer; ovarian cancer; breast cancer and fallopian tubes cancer.

(A) Considering that prostate cancer is a cancer that has strong effects on the health of men the risk factors are:

Age

About 6 in 10 cases of prostate cancer are found in men older than 65. On the other hand, it is rare in men younger than 40, but the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50;

Geography

The reasons for prostate cancer being most common in North America, northwestern Europe, Australia, and on Caribbean islands but less common in Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America, are not clear. But, it is possible that a more intensive screening for prostate cancer in some developed countries accounts for at least part of this difference, but other factors such as lifestyle differences (diet, etc.) are likely to be important as well.

Family History

Considering that prostate cancer seems to run in some families, which suggests that in some cases there may be an inherited or genetic factor. Still, most prostate cancers occur in men without a family history of it.

In a general context it has been observed that men having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than double a man’s risk of developing this disease. (The risk is higher for men who have a brother with the disease than for those who have a father with it.) The risk is much higher for men with several affected relatives, particularly if their relatives were young when the cancer was found.

Gene Changes

Several inherited gene changes (mutations) seem to raise prostate cancer risk, but they probably account for only a small percentage of cases overall. For example:

Inherited mutations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which are linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers in some families, can also increase prostate cancer risk in men (especially mutations in BRCA2).

Men with Lynch syndrome (also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, or HNPCC), a condition caused by inherited gene changes, have an increased risk for a number of cancers, including prostate cancer.

According to [2] the most important known risk factors for prostate cancer are age, ethnicity, and inherited genetic variants.

(B) Ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer and peritoneum cancer.

Concerning genital cancer in women, we go to emphasize: ovarian epithelial cancer, peritoneum and fallopian tube cancer. Ovarian epithelial cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and primary peritoneal cancer are diseases in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissue covering the ovary (a pair of organs in the female reproductive system. They are in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus (the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a fetus grows) or lining the fallopian tube.

1. Ovarian epithelial cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and primary peritoneal cancer form in the same type of tissue and are treated the same way.
2. Women who have a family history of ovarian cancer are at an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
3. Some ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers are caused by inherited gene mutations (changes).
4. Cancer sometimes begins at the end of the fallopian tube near the ovary and spreads to the ovary.
5. The peritoneum is the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers organs in the abdomen. Primary peritoneal cancer is cancer that forms in the peritoneum and has not spread there from another part of the body. Cancer sometimes begins in the peritoneum and spreads to the ovary.
6. Cancer sometimes begins at the end of the fallopian tube near the ovary and spreads to the ovary.
7. The peritoneum is the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers organs in the abdomen. Primary peritoneal cancer is cancer that forms in the peritoneum and has not spread there from another part of the body. Cancer sometimes begins in the peritoneum and spreads to the ovary.
8. The fallopian tubes are a pair of long, slender tubes, one on each side of the uterus. Eggs pass from the ovaries, through the fallopian tubes, to the uterus. Cancer sometimes begins at the end of the fallopian tube near the ovary and spreads to the ovary.

Such how was referred back, inherited mutations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, are linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers in some families.

Conclusions

1. We think that it was here demonstrated that genital cancer has an impact on the health of women and men.
2. We hope that the diminution of the attention that was given to this disease, during the combat COVID-19, is corrected in a short/medium time.
3. To combat cancer, it is necessary:

• to have persons specialized for the different types of combat;
• more research in this area.

to divulge to the public in general information on prevention and importance of the knowledge of the risk factors for cancer, a disease that can affect the human population of all ages.

References

1. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
2. Cheng HH, Nelson PS. Genetic risk factors for prostate cancer. UpToDate. 2019. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/genetic-risk-factors-for-prostate-cancer on March 19, 2019. National Cancer Institute. Physician Data Query (PDQ).