Endometrial Cancer
What is cancer of the endometrium and what are its symptoms?
What are the risk factors for endometrial cancer?
How is endometrial cancer diagnosed?
What is the most common treatment for endometrial
cancer?
Also
See:
Hysterectomy
Cancer
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What is cancer of
the endometrium and what are its symptoms?
Cancer of the
endometrium, a common kind of cancer in women, is a disease in which
cancer (malignant) cells are found in the lining of the uterus (endometrium).
The uterus is the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a baby grows during a
woman’s pregnancy. Cancer of the endometrium is different from cancer of
the muscle of the uterus (called sarcoma of the uterus). You should see a
doctor if you have any of the following problems: bleeding or discharge
not related to menstruation, difficult or painful urination, pain during
intercourse, or pain in the pelvic areas.
What are the risk
factors for endometrial cancer?
One risk factor for
endometrial cancer is an increase in the number of normal cells lining the
uterus (endometrial hyperplasia). Since incidence of endometrial cancer
may be related to hormonal changes, any condition which elevates hormone
levels may put women at increased risk. Estrogen replacement therapy, some
ovarian tumors, obesity, having had few or no children, and late menopause
are all associated with elevated hormone levels.
How is endometrial
cancer diagnosed?
Your doctor may use
several tests to see if you have cancer, usually beginning with an
internal (pelvic) examination. During the examination, your doctor will
feel for any lumps or changes in the shape of the uterus. Your doctor will
then do a Pap test, using a piece of cotton, a brush, or a small wooden
stick to gently scrape the outside of the cervix (opening of the uterus)
and vagina to pick up cells for microscopic study.
Because cancer of
the endometrium begins inside the uterus, it does not usually show up on a
Pap test. For this reason, your doctor may also do a dilation and
curettage (D&C) or similar test to remove pieces of the lining of the
uterus. During a D&C, the opening of the cervix is stretched with a
spoon-shaped instrument and the walls of the uterus are gently scraped to
remove any growths. This tissue is then checked for cancer cells.
What is
the most common treatment for endometrial cancer?
Surgery is the most
common treatment for cancer of the endometrium. Your doctor may take out
the cancer using one of the following operations:
-
Total abdominal
hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, both of which involve
removing the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries through a cut in the
abdomen. Lymph nodes in the pelvis may also be removed (lymph node
dissection). The lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures found
throughout the body that produce and store infection-fighting cells, but
may also contain cancer cells.
-
Radical
hysterectomy involves removing the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes,
ovaries, and part of the vagina. Lymph nodes in the area may also
be taken out.
from
The Office On Women's Health - US Department of Health and Human Services
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