Endometrial Cancer
See also:
Reproductive Cancer,
Uterine Cancer
What is it?
Endometrial cancer is the third
most common cancer in women.
Women with this cancer are more likely to recover if the cancer
is diagnosed and treated early.
Endometrial Cancer develops when the
cells of the endometrium become abnormal and grown uncontrollably.
The endometrium is the tissue forming the inner lining of the
uterus. Endometrial cancer is a common type of cancer among women.
Who gets it and what are its causes?
This cancer is a common type of cancer
among women. The incidence of the disease is higher in Caucasian
women than in African-American women. This type of cancer generally
occurs in women who have gone through menopause and are 45 years old
or older. The average age of a woman when she is diagnosed is 60
years old.
Although the exact cause of Endometrial cancer is unknown, there
are several factors that increase a woman’s risk of developing this
particular cancer.
- Age-The risk is considerably higher in women who are over the age
of 50 and have gone through menopause.
- Obesity-Being overweight is thought to be a very strong risk
factor for this cancer. Fatty tissue can change other normal body
chemicals into estrogen, which can promote endometrial cancer.
- Estrogen Replacement Therapy-Studies have shown that a woman
receiving estrogen supplements after menopause can have a 12 times
higher risk of getting endometrial cancer if she is not taking
progesterone at the same time.
- Diabetes-A diabetic has twice the risk of getting this cancer
compared to normal women. At present, it is not very clear if this
risk is due to the fact that many diabetics are also obese and
hypertensive.
- Hypertension-Having high blood pressure (or hypertension) is also
considered a risk factor for uterine cancer. Again, as with
diabetes, it is not very clear if hypertension alone is responsible
for increasing the risk of endometrial cancer or if the risk is
related to the fact that hypertensive women are also generally
obese.
- Irregular menstrual periods-During a women’s menstrual cycle,
there is interaction between the hormones estrogen (which can
encourage endometrial cancer development and progesterone (which can
offer protection from endometrial cancer). Women who do not ovulate
regularly are exposed to high estrogen levels for longer periods of
time. If a woman does not ovulate regularly, this delicate balance
is upset and may increase her chances of getting uterine cancer.
- Early first menstruation or late menopause-For unknown reasons,
having a first period at a young age and going through menopause at
a late age seem to put women at a slightly higher risk for
developing endometrial cancer.
- Tamoxifen-This drug is used to treat breast cancer and it
increases a woman’s chance of developing endometrial cancer. In
many cases, however, the value of tamoxifen for treating breast
cancer and for preventing the cancer from spreading far outweighs
the small risk of getting endometrial cancer from using the drug.
- Family history-Some studies suggest that endometrial cancer runs
in certain families. However, research needs to be done to prove
that there is a hereditary link.
Endometrial cancers have a good chance of being cured because there
are symptoms that are evident very early on in the disease. The most
common symptom of endometrial cancer is usually bleeding or discharge.
Especially in women who have gone through menopause, any vaginal
bleeding should be brought to the attention of the doctor immediately.
Any abnormal vaginal discharge should also be reported. Pain in the
pelvic region and the presence of a lump (mass) are symptoms that
occur late in the disease.
What are the symptoms?
Endometrial Cancer-Some women appear to be at a greater
risk for developing this cancer than others. These include women who
never had sexual intercourse or had few or no children, women who
began to menstruate early or had a late menopause, and women who had
estrogen replacement therapy without progesterone for menopausal
symptoms. Symptoms include vaginal bleed after menopause, bleeding
after sexual intercourse, bleeding between periods in pre-menopausal
women.
Medical Treatment
Endometrial Cancer-If your physician suspects endometrial
cancer, they will conduct a series of tests to confirm the
diagnosis. A complete personal and family medical history will be
taken. A physician examination will be done, which will include a
thorough pelvic examination.
Your physician may request an endometrial biopsy. This can be
performed in the physician’s office. A very thin, flexible tube is
inserted into the uterus through the cervix. A small piece of
endometrial tissue is removed. If an adequate amount of tissue was not
obtained by the endometrial biopsy, or if the biopsy tissue looks
abnormal and confirmation is needed, your physician may perform a
procedure known as a D & C (dilatation and curettage).
Standard treatments available for endometrial cancer are surgery,
radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery is the best option when
endometrial cancer is diagnosed in its very early stages. At this
time, the location and the stage of cancer make removal easy.
Sometimes patients are treated with a combination of surgery and
radiation therapy. There are several surgical procedures that can be
used and the choice of which procedure is used depends on the type
and stage of the cancer.
Hysterectomy-Almost all women with endometrial cancer (except those with
advanced or stage IV) are treated with a hysterectomy. They may also
receive additional treatment. A simple hysterectomy involves the
removal of the uterus, making the woman unable to have children. In a
procedure known as bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, both ovaries, the
fallopian tubes and the uterus are removed. This may be necessary
because endometrial cancer often spreads to the ovaries first.
Radiation therapy can be used. Sometimes radioactive pellets are
placed inside the body near the tumor. This is called brachytherapy or
internal radiation therapy. Fatigue, upset stomach, diarrhea and
nausea are also common complaints of women having radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to kill the cancer cells. The
drugs are given orally or intravenously. They enter the bloodstream
and can travel to all parts of the body to kill cancer cells.
Generally, a combination of drugs is given since it is more effective
than a single drug in treating cancer. Side effects of this treatment
include stomach upset, vomiting, appetite loss, hair loss, mouth or
vaginal sores, fatigue, menstrual cycle changes and premature
menopause.
Hormonal therapy uses drugs like progesterone that will slow the
growth of endometrial cells. These drugs are usually available as
pills. This therapy is usually reserved for women with advanced or
recurrent disease.
Physician's Who Treat Endometrial Cancer
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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