Uterine cancer (patient information): Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 19:42, 17 August 2009
Editor-in-Chief: Jinhui Wu
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What is uterine cancer?
The uterus is a hollow, muscular organ where a fetus grows. There are different types of uterine cancer. The most common type of uterine cancer is called endometrial cancer, which starts in the lining of the uterus. Usual syptoms of uterine cancer include unusual vaginal bleeding, trouble urinating, pelvic pain and pain during intercourse. Treatment includes hysterectomy, hormone therapy and radiation.
How do I know if I have uterine cancer and what are the symptoms of uterine cancer?
Early uterine cancer does not have any symptoms. As the tumor grows larger, people may notice one or more of the following symptoms:
- Unusual vaginal bleeding
- Trouble urinating
- Pelvic pain and pain during intercourse
- Fatigue and unexplained weight loss
Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
Who is at risk for uterine cancer?
Clinical data has suggested that the development of uterine cancer is related to several factors. Estrogen level abnormal may be the most important factor.
Hormone levels: Any change in the balance of estrogen and progesterone towards more estrogen increases the risk for developing endometrial cancer.
- Estrogen therapy: Clinical data show the use of estrogen without progesterone can lead to endometrial cancer.
- Birth control pills: Clinical observations suggest that the use of birth control pills can lower the risk of endometrial cancer.
- Total number of menstrual cycles: Medical studies show that more menstrual cycles during a woman’s lifetime raises her risk of endometrial cancer.
- Pregnancy: Studies show that more pregnancies may protect against endometrial cancer because of the the shift towards more progesterone during the peroid of pregnancies.
- Obesity: Besides ovaries, estrogens can be produced by fat tissue. So, women with more fat tissue in their bodies have higher risk of developing endometrial cancer. After menopause, estrogen produced by the fat tissue has a bigger influence than before.
- Tamoxifen: As a drug used to treatment of chest cancer, Tamoxifen acts different effect in chest tissue and uterine. It promotes the grow of endometrium and increases the risk of endometrial cancer.
- Ovarian tumors: The granulosa-theca cell tumor, one type of ovarian tumors, can produce estrogen and increase the risk of endometrial cancer.
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome: This is a condition with abnormal hormone levels, such as higher estrogen levels and lower levels of progesterone. This can also increase the risk of endometrial cancer.
- A diet high in animal fat
Endometrial hyperplasia: Atypical hyperplasia is a precancerous lesion of endometrial cancer.
Prior pelvic radiation therapy: Radiation can increase the risk of endometrial cancer by damaging the DNA of cells.
Diabetes: Epidemiological data show that endometrial cancer may be as much as four times more common in women with diabetes.
Family history: Clinical surveies show person with a family history of endometrial cancer has a higher risk of developing the disease.
Age: The risk of endometrial cancer increases when women became older.
How to know you have uterine cancer?
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for uterine cancer?
Directions to Hospitals Treating uterine cancer
Prevention of uterine cancer
What to expect (Outook/Prognosis)?
Copyleft Sources
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/endometrial/
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/uterinecancer.html