Follow Us on Google
How would a woman know if she has cancer of the uterus? The wife of a former President of Nigeria died of the cancer of the cervix. This was because it was not discovered on time. She was visiting the best hospitals in the world, yet it was not detected early.
Exactly my fears, if the wife of a Nigerian President who had unlimited access to fortune and facility could die because of non- diagnosis, woe betide the commoner.
Many women who had uterine cancer, that is cancer of the uterus, had delayed diagnosis and most of them died because of metastasis.
There are numerous names for cancer of the uterus. Examples include uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, endometrial carcinoma, etc. Uterine cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive tract. It occurs when abnormal cells form in the tissue of the uterus. It starts in the uterus and spreads through the blood and lymph systems.
Cancers that occur in each part of the uterus have their own names, such as cervical cancer or endometrial cancer, but are sometimes broadly defined as uterine cancer because the structure is part of the uterus.
The most common type of cancer of the uterus begins in the endometrial lining of the uterus. The second type of cancer seen in the uterus is uterine sarcoma. This type of cancer of the uterus is in the muscle.
There are many different types of uterine cancer. Each type varies in the way it behaves and how it should be managed. For this reason we often ask our specialists in pathology to review findings.
The various types of uterine cancer include: endometrial adenocarcinoma, serous adenocarcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma and carcinomasarcoma.
Certain factors increase the risk of uterine cancer. Examples include obesity – being overweight raises your risk two to four times. A higher level of fat tissue increases your level of oestrogen; eating a diet high in fat also increases the risk.
When one takes Tamoxifex drug for breast cancer treatment, it causes uterine lining to grow. If you take tamoxifen and have changes in your menstrual period or bleeding after menopause, it is important to let your doctor know.
Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT), without progesterone, if you still have uterus, as well as birth control pills may lower your risky.
Personal or family history of uterine, ovarian or colon cancer. This may be a sign of Lunch syndrome called – hereditary non – polynosis colorectal cancer or HNPCC
Ovarian diseases such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) increase the risk of uterine cancer. Diabetes and never having been pregnant before are also risk factors in developing cancer.
If you started having periods as a female before 12 years old or went through menopause late your risk of uterine cancer may be higher.
Breast or ovarian cancers are also risk factors for uterine cancer. Snyypelvic radiation to treat other kinds of cancer are risk factors to development of uterine cancer.
It should also be noted that not everyone with risk factors gets uterine cancer. However if you have risk factors, it is a good idea to discuss them with your doctor.
The cause of uterine cancer is not known, but excess estrogen seems to increase the risk.
During a woman’s reproductive years the uterine lining or endometrium is in a continual cycle of growth and maturation. For this reason we often ask our specialists in pathology to review findings.
Anything that increases your chance of getting uterine cancer is a risk factor. Being overweight raises your risk two to four times. A higher level of fat tissue increases your level of estrogen.
More than 95% of uterine cancers occur in women 40 and older. The breast cancer drug e.g Tamoxifen, can cause the breast lining to grow. If you take tamoxifen and have changes in your menstrual period or bleedings after menopause, it is important to let your doctor know.
Birth control pills and estrogen replacement therapy without progesterone if you have’ uterus may lower the risk of uterine cancer.
A personal family history of uterine ovarian or colon cancer may be a sign of Lynch Syndrome – hereditary Non – polyposis Colorectal Cancer or HNPCC.
Ovarian diseases such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia may become uterine cancer.
Diabetes may also predispose to ovarian cancer due to multiple petechial haemorrhages and never having been pregnant or what we call nulli – para uterus predisposes to cancer.
If you started having periods before 12 years old or went through menopause late, your risk of uterine cancer may be higher.
Breast or ovarian cancer also predispose you to uterine cancer.
Pelvic radiation to treat other diseases like sarcoma may predispose one to uterine cancer.
It has been said that the cause of uterine cancer is not known, but excess estrogen seems to increase the risk.
During a woman’s reproductive years, the uterine lining, or endometrium, is in a continual cycle of growth and maturation. Estrogen encourages the growth of the endometrium, while progesterone encourages maturation.
When pregnancy does not occur the resulting decrease in progesterone levels causes endometrial shedding and menstruation. High estrogen levels can lead to excessive growth hyperplasia of the endometrium, which can develop into cancer.
Uterine cancer occasionally runs in the families, and individuals who have syndromes that increase the general risk of cancer may develop endometrial cancer.
Symptoms of uterine cancer may not immediately be obvious but bleeding after you have been through menopause, i.e once your periods have stopped for 12 months may be a pointer something sinister is developing.
Unusually heavy periods and bleeding in between periods might be a sign of uterine cancer.
Abdominal pain especially at the lower part of the abdomen calls for a thorough examination.
An unusual fluid or discharge from your vagina that is watery, bloody, or smelly should be thoroughly examined, if you have trouble going to the toilet to pass urine (wee) or pain when you do go.
Diagnosis of uterine cancer usually involves a pap smear test, ultrasound, a biopsy, dilatation and curettage (D & C), body MRI or body CT, a Chest – x-ray and PET Scan.
Uterine cancer is treated by one or a combination of treatment such as laparoscopic surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
10 to 15% of patients may need adjuvant radiotherapy, and or radiotherapy with chemotherapy depending on tumour risk factors.
Surgery is the procedure in which the tumour and surrounding tissue are removed during an operation.
Hysterectomy – in this procedure uterus and cervix are removed with the help of laparoscopy. The surgeon may perform a simple hysterectomy or a radical hysterectomy, and for patients who have been through menopause, the surgeon will also perform removal of the tubes.
Also lymphadenectomy could be done a procedure where lymph nodes near the tumors are removed.
The use of x-rays to kill or injure cancer cells is called radiotherapy; this is commonly used as an additional treatment to reduce the chance of cancer coming back.
There is no sure way to prevent uterine cancer. General prevention strategies involve lowering risk factors under your control. This includes things like, eating healthy diets, maintaining a healthy weight. Treating other medical conditions, such as diabetes. Not smoking. Speaking with your doctor about your risk before beginning hormone replacement therapy (HRT), for menopause or other conditions.
Attend regular physical examination and all gynaecological appointments.
Always be medically guided.
•Please follow me on twitter @-DRSUN.
