By: James Pendergraft
Submitted: 2009-10-09 07:13:31 | Word Count: 630
The cancer of the uterus develops on the uterine lining, which is also known as the endometrium. As such, this is also known as the endometrial cancer. In the United States, the uterine cancer is considered as the most common among all gynecologic cancers and is even the fourth most prevalent cancers among women. Statistically, one of every 50 women could get uterine cancer, although this is known to develop after menopause has set in, generally among women who are aged 50 to 65 years old.
Causes and Risks of Uterine Cancer
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Uterine cancer is more prevalent in developed countries where the daily diet consists mostly of fatty foods. As such the risk factors that you should watch out for when it comes to this cancer are diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. There are other risks that could result in the development of cancer in the uterus as well, and these include the following:
1) Experiencing menstrual problems like spotting in between menstruation periods, excessive bleeding, and long intervals between periods.
2) Getting menstrual periods at an early age and going through menopause after turning 52 years old or both.
3) Having tumors that are known to produce estrogen.
4) Not bearing any children.
5) Taking medications that have high dosage of estrogen, without progesterone being introduced into the system.
These risk factors for uterine cancer are considered as such because they lead to the heightening of the estrogen level in the body. Estrogen is the hormone that encourages rapid tissue growth as well as cell division on the uterine lining, especially when there is not enough progesterone that aids in balancing its effects. Because estrogen levels escalate during menstrual periods, it is believed that getting the more menstrual periods you get in your lifetime could heighten the risk for uterine cancer.
Symptoms of Uterine Cancer
Generally, the earliest symptom that you could get if you have uterine cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding. This kind of bleeding could include bleeding in-between menstrual periods, bleeding even after menopause, and irregular periods that are longer than normal and are heavy.
One out of three women who experience vaginal bleeding even after menopause almost always has uterine cancer. So if you are experiencing some vaginal bleeding even after menopause, then it is best that you consult with your doctor as soon as possible. It is also possible that you will be getting a watery discharge that is tinged with blood with uterine cancer. You may also experience vaginal discharge for a number of weeks or months and then this could be followed by bleeding from your vagina.
Diagnosis of the Cancer
Uterine cancer may be suspected if you have abnormal Pap test results or if you are experiencing typical symptoms of the illness. Once this happens, an endometrial biopsy will be done, which is known to detect uterine cancer by above 90 percent all the time. If it is confirmed that you have uterine cancer, then other procedures will be performed to determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Treatment of the Cancer
Removing the uterus through surgery or what is known as hysterectomy is the usual treatment for uterine cancer. If the cancer has not spread to any other part of the female reproductive system, then this would completely treat the illness. However, if the cancer is already at an advanced stage, then hysterectomy will just improve the prognosis. Radiation, progestin, and chemotherapy are also other known treatments for uterine cancer.
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