Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer: Causes and Symptoms

Uterine Cancer is the most common type of cancer of the female reproductive system, especially in women heading towards menopause. They are usually malignant, and they infiltrate neighboring cells, finally killing them. Cancer can also metastasize and spread to other parts of the body.

Sometimes changes in the uterus cells are seen; the changes in the cells can either be pre-cancerous in nature, which means that there is abnormal cell growth but not cancerous yet, or cancerous.

There are two main types of uterine cancer:

• Endometrial carcinoma, which starts from the inner lining of the uterus, also known as the endometrium and is the most common form of uterine cancer and is often curable.
• Uterine sarcoma develops from the supporting tissues, including muscles, bones, fats, and fibrous tissues. They are very rare and quite difficult to treat.

The other types of uterine cancer are:

• Carcinosarcoma
• Gestational trophoblastic disease

Symptoms of uterine cancer:

• Heavy vaginal bleeding.
• Menorrhagia
• Abnormal uterine bleeding
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Abnormal pap smear reports
• Pain while passing urine
• Difficulty in passing urine
• Pain in hips, legs, pelvis, and lower abdomen.
• Bleeding between periods
• Vaginal bleeding after menopause
• Abnormal, watery, or blood-tinged discharge from the vagina.

Causes:

The exact cause of uterine cancer is unknown, but it is believed that genetic mutation within the cells turns normal cells into abnormal cells. The abnormal cells grow and multiply without any control; these abnormal cells accumulate results to form a tumor. Cancer thus, then metastasize, affecting other parts of the body.

(Know more about Best Oncologists/Oncosurgeons in India.)

Risk factors for uterine cancer:

The following factors increase the risk of developing uterine cancer:

• Fluctuation in the levels of female hormones, estrogen, and progesterone causes changes in the endometrium. An increase in the levels of estrogen and not progesterone increases the risk of developing endometrial cancer.
• Early menarche and late menopause result in more exposure of the endometrium to estrogen, thus increasing endometrial cancer risk.
• Women who have never been pregnant are at higher risk of developing endometrial cancer.
• The older the women get, the more is the risk of developing endometrial cancer.
• Being obese increases the risk of developing endometrial cancer.
• Women who have taken hormone therapy for breast cancer are at increased risk of developing endometrial cancer.
• An inherited non-polyposis colorectal cancer increases the risk of developing other cancer, including uterine cancer.

How to cut the risk of uterine cancer?

To cut the risk of developing uterine cancer, the following tips can be followed:

• Consult your doctor about hormone therapy after menopause.
• Use oral contraceptive pills once a year to cut the risk of developing endometrial cancer.
• Manage your weight.
• Eat healthy food
• Avoid fatty food
• Exercise regularly

Check here: Top 38 Accredited Cancer Hospitals from India