Uterine Cancer

Cancer of the Uterus

(Uterine Cancer or Endometrial Cancer)

What is Endometrial cancer:

Endometrial cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the uterus. The uterus is the hollow, pear-shaped pelvic organ where fetal development occurs.

Endometrial cancer begins in the layer of cells that form the lining (endometrium) of the uterus. Endometrial cancer is sometimes called uterine cancer. Other types of cancer can form in the uterus, including uterine sarcoma, but they are much less common than endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer is often detected at an early stage because it frequently produces abnormal vaginal bleeding. If endometrial cancer is discovered early, removing the uterus surgically often cures endometrial cancer.

Types of womb cancer :

• Most womb cancers begin in the cells that make up the lining of the womb (the endometrium). This is why cancer of the womb is often called endometrial cancer.

• In rare cases, womb cancer can start in the muscle wall of the womb. This type of cancer is called uterine sarcoma and may be treated in a different way.

Symptoms :

Signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer may include:

• Vaginal bleeding after menopause

• Bleeding between periods

• Pelvic pain

Uterine Cancer

Why does womb cancer happen?

• It's not clear exactly what causes womb cancer, but certain things can increase your risk of developing it.
• One of the main risk factors for womb cancer is higher levels of a hormone called oestrogen in your body.
• A number of things can cause your oestrogen levels to be high, including obesity. There is also a small increase in the risk of womb cancer with long-term use of the breast cancer drug tamoxifen.

Risk factors :

Factors that increase the risk of endometrial cancer include:

• Changes in the balance of female hormones in the body : The ovaries make two main female hormones — estrogen and progesterone. Fluctuations in the balance of these hormones cause changes in the endometrium. A disease or condition that increases the amount of estrogen, but not the level of progesterone, in the body can increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Examples include irregular ovulation patterns, which might happen in polycystic ovary syndrome, obesity and diabetes. Taking hormones after menopause that contain estrogen but not progesterone increases the risk of endometrial cancer. A rare type of ovarian tumor that secretes estrogen also can increase the risk of endometrial cancer.

• More years of menstruation : Starting menstruation at an early age, before age 12 or beginning menopause later increases the risk of endometrial cancer. The more periods, the more exposure endometrium has to estrogen.

• Never having been pregnant : If one has never been pregnant, she has a higher risk of endometrial cancer than someone who has had at least one pregnancy.

• Older age : As one gets older, the risk of endometrial cancer increases. Endometrial cancer occurs most often after menopause.

• Obesity : Being obese increases the risk of endometrial cancer. This may occur because excess body fat alters body's balance of hormones.

• Hormone therap for breast cancer : Taking the hormone therapy drug tamoxifen for breast cancer can increase the risk of developing endometrial cancer.

• An inherited colon cancer syndrome : Lynch syndrome, also called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), is a syndrome that increases the risk of colon cancer and other cancers, including endometrial cancer. Lynch syndrome is caused by a gene mutation passed from parents to children.

Prevention :

To reduce the risk of endometrial cancer one should:

• Talk to the doctor about the risks of hormone therapy after menopause. Talk to the doctor about the risks and benefits if the patient is considering hormone replacement therapy to help control menopause symptoms. Unless a patient’s undergone a hysterectomy, replacing estrogen alone after menopause may increase your risk of endometrial cancer. Taking a combination of estrogen and progestin can reduce this risk.

• Consider taking birth control pills. Using oral contraceptives for at least one year may reduce endometrial cancer risk. The risk reduction is thought to last for several years after stopping taking oral contraceptives.

• Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity increases the risk of endometrial cancer, so work to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Diagnosis :

Tests that examine the endometrium are used to detect (find) and diagnose endometrial cancer. Those tests are:

• Endometrial biopsy

• Dilatation and curettage

• Hysteroscopy

• Transvaginal ultrasound exam

• Physical exam and history : An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient's health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.