What is endometrial cancer?
The lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. Cancer of the endometrium is the most common cancer of the female reproductive organs.
Cancer of the endometrium is different from cancer of the connective tissue or muscle of the uterus, which is called uterine sarcoma. About 80 percent of all endometrial cancers are adenocarcinomas. This means the cancer occurs in the cells that develop the glands in the endometrium. Endometrial cancer is highly curable when found early.
Uterine carcinosarcoma is a very rare type of uterine cancer, with characteristics of both endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma. It is also known as a malignant mixed mesodermal tumor.
What Are the Symptoms of Endometrial Cancer?
Some women with endometrial cancer have no symptoms until the disease has spread to other organs. But endometrial cancer is usually diagnosed by the appearance of symptoms — like vaginal bleeding — as the cancer begins to grow. The most likely symptoms are:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, which occurs in nine out of 10 women with endometrial cancer. Before menopause, this means unusually heavy irregular menstrual periods or bleeding between periods. After a woman enters menopause, this means any vaginal bleeding, unless they are on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Even though HRT may cause vaginal bleeding in postmenopausal women, the first episodes of any such bleeding should be checked by a doctor to make sure that it is not due to endometrial cancer. However, only 15% of women with postmenopausal bleeding will have endometrial cancer.
- Vaginal discharge that may range from pink and watery to thick, brown, and foul smelling.
- Difficult or painful urination.
- An enlarged uterus, detectable during a pelvic exam.
- Pain during intercourse.
- Unexpected weight loss.
- Weakness and pain in the lower abdomen, back, or legs. This happens when the cancer has spread to other organs.
Endometrial Cancer Prevention
The exact cause of endometrial cancer is not known. However, doctors believe that avoiding the known risk factors when possible, using oral contraceptives or other forms of hormonal birth control, controlling obesity and controlling diabetes are the best ways to lower the risk of developing endometrial cancer.
Call Your Doctor About Endometrial Cancer If:
You experience abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge. Abnormal bleeding, though sometimes a symptom of perimenopause (pre-menopause), should be brought to your doctor’s attention immediately. Endometrial cancer usually doesn’t occur before menopause, but it can appear around the time menopause begins and during the menopausal transition.
