Understand endometrial-uterine cancer to know how to face it

Uterine cancer originates from the internal layer: the endometrium. It has a higher prevalence in women over the age of 60, it is the most frequent tumor of the female genital organs, and it is diagnosed in almost 4.000 women each year in Spain. However, most women are usually cured form the disease with early and appropriate treatment.

https://www.topdoctors.es/files/Image/large/56f3e2a8-db28-41e0-8a99-24ce5b793aaa.png

Uterine cancer: what is it?
The uterus is an organ prepared to accommodate the embryo during pregnancy. Below it is in contact with the vagina and above it communicates with the abdominal cavity, through the Fallopian tubes.
Endometrial (uterine) cancer usually originates in the internal layer of the uterine cavity and responds to the uncontrolled growth of endometrial cells that line the endometrial cavity. It usually develops around the age of 60.

Causes of uterine cancer
While no direct cause of endometrial cancer can be singled out, there is a group of women with a higher risk of developing it. Thus, women with obesity, hypertension, and diabetes have a higher risk of suffering from endometrial cancer.
Anyway, the fact that the patient has one of these factors, does not mean she will have endometrial cancer in the future. It simply means that the risk of developing it is higher compared to the population without these factors.

On the other hand, most women with breast cancer must take an oral medication for 5 years after the initial treatment. This drug, called Tamoxifen, reduces the odds of breast cancer recurrence, but on the other hand, produces chronic stimuli of the endometrial cells in the uterus.
As a consequence, these women also have a higher risk of developing endometrial cancer. Anyway, the benefit of the medication outweighs its increased risk of endometrial cancer.

Therefore, the main risk factors for developing endometrial cancer are:
– Diabetes
– Obesity
– Hypertension
– Tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer

Types of uterine cancer and their differences
There are different types of uterine cancer and they differ in the part of the uterus from which they originate and, also, in their histologic variant. For example, regarding localization, uterine cancer can originate from the internal layer (or endometrium) or the medium layer (myometrium).
But, at the same time, endometrial tumors can be classified as endometrioid, serous, clear cell, or mucinous variants. Myometrial tumors can be leiomyosarcomas or carcinosarcomas, for example.

The main difference between them, beyond their origin, is their different aggressiveness, their diverse risk factors, and, consequently, their different treatments depending on each of the types of uterine cancer.

Uterine cancer with the highest incidence
Endometrioid endometrial cancer is, by far the most frequent uterine tumor. Moreover, this is the most common tumor of the female genital organs in developed countries. It is estimated that almost 4.000 women are diagnosed with uterine cancer in Spain each year.

Symptoms and diagnosis of uterine cancer
Since the tumor generally presents during the woman’s menopause, namely a few years after the last period, the most frequent symptom is uterine bleeding. It is usually a symptom of early disease and is unexpected for women. Therefore, almost 80% of tumors are diagnosed at very early stages, when the disease is limited to the uterus.
If the patient still has menstrual periods, genital bleeding is often mistaken for cycle disorders and it can delay the diagnosis a few months.

Other symptoms that can appear are vaginal secretion (vaginal discharge) or pelvic pain.

Laparoscopic treatment of uterine cancer
Fortunately, most patients are usually cured with the removal of the uterus and the ovaries. Removal of lymph nodes is only necessary in selected cases. After that, only a small minority need subsequent treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

We can currently perform surgical treatment with minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery in most patients with endometrial cancer. It is important to mention that surgical treatment for endometrial cancer is almost always performed by Gynecology specialists. This novel type of surgical technique has the great advantage of reducing postoperative pain levels, and speeding the patient’s recovery, without compromising the oncologic result of the disease.

Results and cure of uterine cancer
With effective and individualized treatment, most patients with endometrial cancer achieve a cure for the disease. Anyway, it is important to perform an accurate diagnosis and treatment from the beginning to avoid mistakes that could lead to a recurrence of the disease with the consequent adverse oncologic results.

 

No Comments
Post a Comment
Name
E-mail
Website