Contents:
- Medical Video: Detecting and Treating Endometrial Cancer
- What is endometrial cancer?
- What causes endometrial cancer?
- Who is at risk of having endometrial cancer?
- What might happen after being diagnosed with endometrial cancer
- What complications might arise from endometrial cancer?
- Another name for endometrial cancer
Medical Video: Detecting and Treating Endometrial Cancer
Overall, there are 300,000 cases of endometrial cancer diagnosed each year in the United States. In addition, this disease is the most common malignant gynecological cancer not only in the US but also in other developed countries. The following is more information about this condition.
What is endometrial cancer?
Endometrial cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the uterus. The uterus is a pelvic and hollow pelvic organ, in which fetal growth occurs.
Endometrial cancer grows in the cell layer that forms the uterine wall (endometrium). Endometrial cancer is sometimes called uterine cancer. There is one other type of cancer that can be found in the uterus, called uterine sarcoma, but this disease is less frequent than uterine cancer.
Endometrial cancer is usually detected from the formation of cyst tissue that triggers abnormal vaginal bleeding, which makes women quickly go to the doctor. If endometrial cancer is diagnosed early, cancer treatment usually includes uterine cutting surgery.
What causes endometrial cancer?
Endometrial cancer is the most common type of uterine cancer. The exact cause of endometrial cancer is uncertain. An increase in estrogen levels can cause this health condition. Estrogen is to help accelerate the growth of the uterine wall. This can be a cause of excessive buildup of uterine wall tissue that can trigger cancer.
Who is at risk of having endometrial cancer?
Most cases of endometrial cancer occur in women aged 60 to 70 years. Some cases can occur before the age of 40 years.
The following factors related to hormone levels increase the risk of endometrial cancer:
- estrogen replacement therapy without using progesterone
- history of endometrial polyps
- irregular menstruation
- have never been pregnant
- obesity
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- start menstruation at an early age (before the age of 12 years)
- start menopause at the age of 50 years
- Tamoxifen, a drug used for the treatment of breast cancer
Women with the following conditions are also considered to be at high risk for endometrial cancer:
- colon cancer or breast cancer
- diabetes
- gall bladder disease
- hypertension
What might happen after being diagnosed with endometrial cancer
Endometrial cancer is usually diagnosed at an early stage.
If cancer cells have not spread, 95% of women live after five years. However, if cancer cells have spread to other organs, about 25% of women can live after five years.
What complications might arise from endometrial cancer?
Complications from endometrial cancer can include:
- Anemia due to blood loss (before diagnosis)
- Hole (perforation) in the uterus, which can occur during D & C (dilation and curettage) or endometrial biopsy
- Side effects of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy
Another name for endometrial cancer
Endometrial adenocarcinoma, uterine adenocarcinoma, uterine cancer, adenocarcinoma - endometrium, adenocarcinoma - uterus, cancer - uterus, cancer - endometrium, cancer of the body of the uterus
Visit a doctor for more information about endometrial cancer.
