Uterine Cancer Signs
Should Not Be Ignored
Uterine cancer signs - commonly known as uterus cancer signs - involve the formation/growth of malignant tumor(s) in the uterus.
Uterus Cancer accounts for 8% of all cases of cancer in women. Endometrial cancer (still another name for uterine cancer) is the most common gynecologic cancer that occurs in the United States. It arises from abnormal cells that develop within the inside lining of the uterus.
Here Are The Risk Factors For Developing Uterus Cancer
- Endometrial hyperplasia: excess numbers of cells within the endometrium (the inner membrane of the uterus).
- Age: This cancer is usually found in women older than the age of 50.
- Excess estrogen: Hormonal therapy is one potential cause, as is obesity since estrogen is produced in the fatty tissue of the body.
- Ethnicity: Caucasian women are at higher risk of endometrial cancer.
- Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) is one of the medications used to treat breast cancer.
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. These are the hallmark symptoms of endometrial cancer.
- Any bleeding after menopause is abnormal. The bleeding may begin as a white or watery discharge that is streaked with blood and then progress a completely bloody discharge.
- Excess menstrual bleeding.
- Irregular periods, more frequent periods or bleeding between periods.
- Lower abdominal pain, pelvic pain or pain with intercourse, are symptoms of uterus irritation.
- Obesity (high amount of extra body fat).
- Women who take estrogen by itself (without also taking the other female hormone, progesterone) for birth control or to replace hormones during menopause.
- Women who have had trouble getting pregnant, or have had fewer than five periods in a year before starting menopause.
- Women who have people in their family who have had uterine, colon, or ovarian cancer.If one or more of these is true for you, it does not mean they are uterine cancer signs. But when these symptoms occur, it is appropriate to seek medical care.
There is no simple and reliable way to test for uterine cancer in women who do not have any signs or symptoms. The Pap test does not check for uterine cancer. This is why you need to know the signs of uterine cancer and see your doctor if you have any of them.
See your doctor right away if you have bleeding from the vagina that is not normal for you. Ask your doctor if you should have an endometrial biopsy. This test involves removing a tiny piece of the lining of the uterus to check for uterine cancer signs.
Your doctor may be able to do this test in his or her office, or may refer you to another doctor. If you still have bleeding after an endometrial biopsy, your doctor may perform more tests.
How Can You Prevent Uterine Cancer?
There is no known way to prevent uterine cancer.
The following may lower your risk of getting uterus cancer:
- Using birth control pills.
- Maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active.
- Asking your doctor to prescribe progesterone (the other female hormone) if you are taking estrogen to replace hormones during menopause.
- Talking with your doctor about how often you should be checked for uterine cancer signs, especially if you think that you have factors that increase your chance of getting it.
If your doctor says that you have uterine cancer, ask to be referred to a gynecologist-oncologist - a doctor who has been trained to treat cancers like this - Then you can go for medical treatments or maybe consider alternative treatments like Peggy Sue Roberts, of Riverside, California did: Uterine Cancer Click here to read the story of this cancer survivor.
