Uterus is a pear shaped organ located in the midline female abdominal and pelvic cavity. It plays an important part in female reproduction health and operation. The main functions of the uterus include controlling the menstrual cycle, maintaining the implantation, gestation and labour processes during pregnancy. The uterus has three layers: endometrium (innermost layer), myometrium, and the perimetrium (outermost layer).
Uterine cancer is the condition in which healthy cells in the uterine wall grow uncontrollably, resulting in the formation of a tumour. It is the most common cancer affecting the female reproductive system. Women aged between 50 and 70 who had their menopause are more exposed to uterine cancers than women below 40.
There are two types of uterine cancer- endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma. Endometrial cancer is the most common type of uterine cancer, whereas uterine sarcoma is rare. Here we are going to discuss endometrial cancer.
With some proper health and wellness routines you can reduce your risk of uterine cancer. Here are some proper knowledge guidelines on symptoms, causes and risk factors of Endometrial cancer by expert oncologists from NMC Healthcare, the best cancer hospital in Dubai.
Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer starts at the endometrium layer of the uterus and spreads to the rest of the uterus slowly. Endometrial cancer can be detected at an early stage due to its noticeable symptoms. It accounts for more than 90% of the female cancer cases.
Symptoms
- Long and heavy periods
- Vagina bleeding after menopause
- Vaginal bleeding not related to periods
- Pelvic pain
- Pain during intercourse
- Abnormal vaginal discharge- watery or blood tinted
- Pain during urination
- Involuntary weight loss
Risk factors
Obesity
The main reason that causes endometrial cancer in postmenopausal condition is obesity. Fat tissues or adipose tissues have the ability to convert hormones like androgens into oestrogens. Increased oestrogen production, without adequate opposition by progesterone can increase risk of endometrial cancer.
Obesity results in an increased amount of fat tissues in the female body, which in turn can increase the oestrogen level.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to measure obesity level. Studies show that women with BMI greater than 35 kg/m2 have higher risk of endometrial cancer.
Medications
Female body undergoes changes in its hormone level during their menstruation cycle, causing menstruation. Regular menstruation is necessary to keep endometrium healthy. After menopause, body stops producing oestrogen and progesterone but fat tissues convert androgens into oestrogen.
Certain medications like tamoxifen (used for treating breast cancer) and other oestrogen receptor modulators can increase the oestrogen level in the female body. They can cause involuntary thickening of uterine walls. Imbalance of oestrogen and progesterone levels after menopause can result in endometrial cancer.
Diabetes
Chances of endometrial cancer is twice as normal in women with endometrial type 2 diabetes. The reason for this relatedness is the increased oestrogen level in diabetic women. However, Diabetics are common in obese and inactive women, which increases the chance of endometric cancer in them.
HRT
HRT stands for Hormone Replacement Therapy. It is a treatment to mitigate menopause symptoms. The lower levels of oestrogen and progesterone after menopause can be reinstated using HRT.
Prolonged usage of oestrogen-only HRT can cause hormonal imbalance, resulting in higher risks of endometrial cancer.
Medical history
Having had an ovarian or breast cancer in the past can also result in high risk of endometrial cancer.
Women with PCOS have high exposure to endometrial cancer. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a condition that affects the female ovaries, causing small egg follicles that do not ovulate get deposited on the ovary, resulting in the increased androgen and oestrogen production, and lower progesterone levels. PCOS can cause other problems like acne, excessive hair growth, irregular periods and in extreme cases, infertility.
Endometrial hyperplasia is another health condition that causes thickening of uterine walls. It is not a cancerous condition but in rare cases it can lead to endometrial cancer.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a form of cancer treatment that uses high radiation doses for shrinking cancerous tumours. It is used in the early stages of cancer for killing the cancer cells and avoiding spreading.
Women who underwent pelvic radiation therapy have a higher chance of getting endometrial cancer, since radiation damages DNA cells, increasing the risk of secondary type cancers.
Lynch Syndrome
Endometrial cancer can be hereditary. Lynch Syndrome or Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) is a form of colon cancer. Having lynch syndrome run in the family can also increase the risk of endometrial cancers in the females of that family.
Menstruation Cycle
The chance of getting endometrial cancer depends on the number of menstrual cycles a woman had in her lifetime. Women who got their periods before the age of 12, and those who had menopause later in life are more likely to get endometrial cancers than other women with regular menstrual cycles.
Survival rate
Endometrial cancer tends to spread slowly and is found only inside the uterus. Studies show that the survival rate is high if diagnosed at an early stage.
Conclusion
Post menopause women have high exposure rate to uterine cancers than others. Getting regular health check-ups after menopause and getting diagnosed at earlier stage can help you avoid complications.
From diagnosis to recovery, keep your mind and body healthy under the services of oncology specialists in the renowned cancer hospital in Dubai, NMC Healthcare.
There are no actual ways to prevent cancer. However, keeping an eye out for these symptoms and knowing its risks can help you monitor your reproductive health accordingly.