{"id":16328,"date":"2024-11-07T15:00:48","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T15:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/women\/?page_id=16328"},"modified":"2026-02-07T11:07:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T11:07:47","slug":"cancer","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ourdorset.org.uk\/women\/cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cancer can affect anyone, but some types of cancer are specific to the female body, including cervical, ovarian, vaginal, vulval and womb cancers. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the UK, and 99% of breast cancer patients in the UK are women (Cancer Research UK).<\/a><\/p>\n

Scroll down for more information or:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Read about the signs and symptoms of cancer<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Visit Cancer Matters Wessex<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

What would you like to know?<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
About cancer<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Types of cancer<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Local services<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

About cancer<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Understanding your body, attending routine health checks and screenings, and making informed lifestyle choices are all proactive steps you can take to protect your health.\u00a0The sooner you notice any changes, the sooner you can receive the advice and help you need.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Cut your cancer risk<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
HPV<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Screening<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Self-checks<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Your stories<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
LGBTQ+<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
How to live well<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Cut your cancer risk<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The best way to try to avoid cancer is to live a healthy lifestyle. Research suggests that four in ten cancer cases can be prevented by healthy lifestyle choices (Cancer Research UK).<\/a> Getting vaccinations and going to screening appointments can also reduce your cancer risk.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i>You can cut you cancer risk – Cancer Research UK<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i>You can cut you cancer risk (easy read guide) – Cancer Research UK<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Six ways to cut your cancer risk<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Be smoke free<\/h4>\n<\/div>
<\/i>Stop smoking – Live Well Dorset<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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<\/i>Quit smoking – NHS UK<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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Keep a healthy weight<\/h4>\n<\/div>
<\/i>Manage weight – Live Well Dorset<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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<\/i>Obesity, weight and cancer – Cancer Research UK<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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Stay safe in the sun<\/h4>\n<\/div>
<\/i>Sun, UV and cancer – Cancer Research UK<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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Cut down on alcohol<\/h4>\n<\/div>
<\/i>Drink Less – Live Well Dorset<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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<\/i>Alcohol and cancer – Cancer Research UK<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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Think about what’s on your plate<\/h4>\n<\/div>
<\/i>A healthy diet and cancer – Cancer Research UK<\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/i>Obesity, weight and cancer – Cancer Research UK<\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Get moving<\/h4>\n<\/div>
<\/i>Move more – Live Well Dorset<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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<\/i>Active Dorset<\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

HPV<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The HPV vaccine is offered to children between the ages of 12-13. This vaccines protects against harmful strains of HPV which can cause cancer.<\/p>\n

For further information on HPV, visit our page on prevention and protection:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Find out more about the HPV vaccine<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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Screening<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Depending on your age and risk, you may be invited to appointments where parts of your body will be checked for cancer. It’s important to attend these screenings when you\u2019re invited, as they can help pick up symptoms early.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Find out more about breast screening<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Find out more about cervical screening<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Find out more about bowel screening<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Easy read guides:<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i>Breast screening easy read guide – GOV UK<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i>Cervical screening easy read guide – GOV UK<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i>Bowel screening easy read guide – GOV UK<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Genetic screening<\/h3><\/div>

Cancer is not usually inherited, but some types \u2013 mainly breast, ovarian, colorectal and prostate cancer \u2013 can be strongly influenced by genes and can run in families.<\/p>\n

Talk to your doctor if cancer runs in your family and you\u2019re worried you may get it too. They may refer you to a local genetics service for an NHS genetic test, which will tell you if you have inherited one of the cancer risk genes.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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<\/i>Genetic tests to check your cancer risk – NHS<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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<\/i>BRCA gene – Macmillan Cancer Support<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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<\/i>BRCA gene faults: everything you need to know – Ovarian Cancer Action<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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