Introduction
Cancer can affect anyone at any age. There are various risk factors associated with each type of cancer. Some are genetically associated, and some are lifestyle-associated. In women, cancer can affect reproductive organs like the uterus, cervix, etc. It has been seen that in women, some cancers are associated with a common hormonal disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. There are many studies that have been done to investigate the link between PCOS and the occurrence of cancer in women. To understand whether PCOS actually leads to cancer or it increases the risk of cancer and how it leads to cancer, all these facts are explored in this article. To learn more about the association between PCOS and cancer, continue reading this article.
What Is PCOS?
PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, is a very common hormonal disorder that occurs during the reproductive years. It affects up to 15 percent of women. It involves imbalances in hormone levels, especially androgens, which can lead to several symptoms like irregular periods, excessive hair growth, the occurrence of acne, and infertility. In this syndrome, the ovaries may produce higher-than-normal levels of androgen, disrupting the balance of reproductive hormones. Because of this disruption, irregularities in the menstrual cycle occur, and as a result, periods become irregular, which can sometimes lead to missed periods and unpredictable ovulation. The interesting fact is that, although it has the name cyst in it, not all women with PCOS develop cysts on their ovaries.
PCOS can occur at any time after puberty. Most women get diagnosed with PCOD in their 20s or 30s, mostly when they try to conceive but cannot. The presence of risk factors like obesity and a family history of PCOS may increase the likelihood of developing PCOS. Early diagnosis and management, along with lifestyle changes such as weight loss, are crucial for mitigating the risk of long-term complications like type 2 diabetes and the heart disease associated with PCOS.
Does PCOS Lead to Ovarian Cancer?
Some studies have been conducted to rule out the direct association between PCOS and cancer. These studies found that PCOS does not directly lead to gynecological cancers (any cancer that begins in the reproductive organs of a woman), like ovarian cancer. The interesting fact the researchers found in the studies was that not all women with PCOS are likely to develop cancer. However, postmenopausal women with PCOS are at a greater risk of developing cancer by as much as twice.
In that study, data was collected from approximately two million women. This data suggests that the overall chances of women with PCOS developing ovarian cancer are low. The data further revealed that when a comparison was made between postmenstrual women with PCOS and postmenstrual women without PCOS, it was found that postmenstrual women who have PCOS can be diagnosed more frequently with ovarian cancer compared to postmenstrual women who do not have PCOS. Therefore, it is important to create awareness about this fact about PCOS, and more attention should be paid to treating and controlling PCOS in postmenopausal women to lower the risk of cancer.
The greater risk of developing ovarian cancer in postmenstrual women indicates that there may be some underlying factors associated with PCOS. These factors include long-term exposure to some potential factors that can lead to cancer, such as the overproduction of male sex hormones, which can contribute to this elevated risk. Additionally, studies have also found that there is an increased risk of serous borderline ovarian tumors in women with PCOS compared to those without PCOS. Although these tumors are not considered cancer, they can lead to cancer in the future.
Does PCOS Lead to Endometrial Cancer?
Some studies have found an association between PCOS and an increased risk of endometrial cancer (a kind of cancer that starts in the lining of the womb or uterus). The reason behind this association is that PCOS leads to either irregular periods or a lack of periods. This leads to the thickening of the endometrium (the innermost lining laver of the uterus) and, thus, increases the risk of endometrium cancer. One study that was done on Taiwanese women found that the risk of endometrial cancer was much higher in women with PCOS compared to those without. This increased risk may be due to prolonged exposure of the endometrium to estrogen due to anovulation (a lack or absence of ovulation), which can lead to endometrial hyperplasia (a condition in which the lining of the uterus increases in thickness) and subsequent cancer. In addition to this, it has been seen that some medical conditions that are usually associated with PCOS, like diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension, have the potential to increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Although this study had some limitations, further studies need to be conducted to reveal more information. However, the results of this study cannot be ignored, and hence, regular screening for endometrial cancer should be done in women with PCOS.
Does PCOS Lead to Breast Cancer?
Studies have been conducted to investigate the association between PCOS and breast cancer. The results of these studies have been inconsistent, and no direct associations have been found. The results of these studies have revealed that PCOS does not increase the risk of breast cancer. However, further studies with broader samples need to be conducted to know whether PCOs have any effect on breast cancer risk.
Conclusion
To conclude, PCOS has an association with cancer, and it can lead to the development of various cancers, like ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer, in women. As PCOS can be diagnosed as early as 20s in women, it should be properly managed, and regular screening of cancer in women should done. Awareness should be created about the link between PCOS and cancer so that women can take care of themselves and go for regular screening for cancer. This can prevent the incidence of cancer. Furthermore, although it does not increase the risk of breast cancer, regular breast cancer screening should also be done, and women should be encouraged to do the self-examination and report any kind of abnormalities to detect cancer in the initial stages.
