Among the cancers that affect women the most worldwide, Endometrial Cancer is the sixth most common. Among women in India, uterine cancer is the most common malignancy, with an incidence rate that is rapidly increasing and making up around 2.5% of all cancer cases.
This condition develops when a uterine cell DNA mutation goes unchecked. It is possible to cure this illness by consulting with uterine cancer specialists and receiving prompt diagnosis and treatment.
What is Endometrial Cancer?
Endometrial cancer is a form of cancer that starts with the development of cells in the uterus. This particular form of cancer affects female reproductive organs more frequently than any other. There are two different kinds of this cancer:
- Type I Endometrial Cancer: By far, endometrioid adenocarcinoma is the most common kind of endometrial cancer. These cancerous cells are less aggressive and tend to have a better prognosis.
- Type II Endometrial Cancer: In this category, you’ll find less common histologic subtypes like serous, clear cell, carcinosarcoma, and undifferentiated/dedifferentiated. These cancers metastasize (spread to other parts of the body) more often and tend to grow quickly.
Symptoms Of Endometrial Cancer
Normal uterine cells can undergo mutations or changes, leading to endometrial cancer. Unlike regular cells, the abnormal ones don’t die off but multiply. If there are enough of them, they can develop into tumors that can spread around the uterus and other parts of the body. Some of the early symptoms are:
- Vaginal bleeding, including severe menstrual cycle alterations or interim bleeding.
- Discomfort near the pelvis.
- Spotty or heavy vaginal bleeding after menopause.
What Are The Risk Factors Of Endometrial Cancer?
Some of the factors contributing to this cancer are:
- Age increases the risk of developing this condition.
- Obese people have greater estrogen levels, which cause hormonal imbalance and promote abnormal uterine cell growth.
- Endometrial cancer is more common in people who start menstruating before 12 or go into menopause later.
- A family history of endometrial cancer raises the risk of developing it.
- Alterations in estrogen and progesterone levels can damage the endometrium and increase cancer risk.
The Diagnosis
The good news is that endometrial cancer often displays symptoms, so doctors can usually catch it early on. This means that patients have a better chance of recovering. The doctor may use the following tests to diagnose your condition:
- Transvaginal Ultrasound: To get a close look at your uterus and ovaries, your doctor will put a small wand into your vagina and use sound waves to see them. Medical professionals can use this tool to assess the uterine lining thickness or detect cancers within the uterus.
- Pelvic Exams: A specialist will inspect the inside of your vagina and cervix to check for abnormalities. Another way a doctor can tell if something is wrong is by feeling the uterus and ovaries.
- Endometrial Sampling (Biopsy): During a pelvic exam, a small brush or flexible tube is used to extract a tiny bit of tissue from the lining of your uterus. Scrape cells are taken from the endometrium and sent to a pathologist for cancer cell analysis.
- Pap Smear: The Pap smear is a method for detecting cervical cancer by analyzing a sample of cells taken from the cervix. While they cannot detect endometrial cancer, they can reveal abnormalities in the endometrium in rare cases.
How Is Endometrial Cancer Treated?
The majority of endometrial cancer patients require surgery. The specifics of your cancer treatment will be based on your specific cancer kind and general health. Some other options for treatment are:
- Chemotherapy: It destroys cancer cells by using strong medications.
- Radiation therapy: The cancer cells are destroyed by directed beams of radiation.
- Hormone therapy: It is used to treat cancer by either giving hormones or blocking their effects.
- Immunotherapy: It enhances the body’s natural defenses against cancer.
- Targeted therapy: It stops the growth of cancer cells by targeting them with medicines.
Prevention
While there is no known way to prevent uterine completely, here are some of the things you can try:
- Discuss hormone therapy risks after menopause with your doctor: Unless you’ve had your uterus removed, estrogen replacement alone after menopause can increase endometrial cancer risk. This risk can be reduced with estrogen-progestin hormone therapy. Discuss both risks and benefits with your doctor before starting hormone therapy.
- Considering birth control pills: At least one year of oral contraception could reduce endometrial cancer risk. The risk reduction may remain for years after stopping oral contraceptives. Discuss with your doctor before starting.
- Maintaining a healthy weight: Endometrial cancer is more common in obese people. The two most effective weight loss strategies are reducing caloric intake and increasing physical activity.
Summing Up
When it comes to gynecologic cancers, endometrial cancer is far and by far the most common. Consultations with Uterine cancer specialists in Bhubaneswar are important for prevention, early detection, recurrence identification, and long-term treatment side effect detection. They can help women understand the condition’s symptoms and get the right treatment recommendations.
If you have been diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer, you can seek help from Dr. Ushashree Das. Contact us for an appointment!