Uterus Cancer - Treatment & Symptom

The uterus is the female reproductive organ where the unborn baby grows and develops until birth.Cancer of the uterus begins in the lining of the uterus (endometrium) and is more precisely termed endometrial cancer (carcinoma). Cancer of the endometrium is different from cancer of the muscle of the uterus, which is called sarcoma of the uterus. Cancer of the uterine corpus is the most common pelvic gynecologic malignancy in the United States and in most developed countries with access to sufficient health care. The uterus (womb) is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located in a woman's lower abdomen between the bladder and the rectum. Cancers are characterized by the normal cells from which they form. The most common type of endometrial cancer is called endometrioid adenocarcinoma; it comes from cells that form glands in the endometrium and it has a characteristic appearance under the microscope. Most often, treatment for uterine cancer involves surgery and radiation therapy. Sometimes, chemotherapy or biological therapy is used.

Cancer of the uterus spreads through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. During a D&C, a sample of the cells lining the uterus is removed for examination under a microscope to determine if cancer is present. The great bulk of the uterus is composed of smooth muscle and forms a thick uterine wall. The incidence of uterine cancer would be even higher if it weren't for the relatively large number of hysterectomies performed for non-cancerous reasons. Sometimes an endometrial cancer has features of more than one subtype; this is called a mixed adenocarcinoma and they make up about 10% of all endometrial cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, about 84 percent of women are cancer-free five years after treatment. It also can spread by the lymphatic system to the vagina, fallopian tubes, ovaries, the pelvic and aortic lymph nodes and to the lymph nodes in the groin and above the collarbone.

Causes of Uterus Cancer

The comman causes and risf factors of Uterus Cancer include the following:

• Genetic.
• Obesity.
• Abnormal menstrual cycles.
• Uterine fibroids.
• Thus any factor that causes a woman to have high levels of estrogen is also a risk factor for Uterus cancer.
• Women who have had breast or colon cancer may have a greater chance of developing uterus cancer than women who have not had breast or colon cancer.
• In many women, a hormone imbalance, such as too much estrogen or not enough progesterone, causes abnormal uterine bleeding.
• Polyps or fibroids (small and large growths) in the uterus can also cause bleeding as well as cancer of the uterus and infection of the cervix.

Symptoms of Uterus Cancer

Some sign and symptoms related to Uterus Cancer are as follows:

• Women above 50 years with abnormal vaginal bleeding.
• A pink, watery or white discharge from your vagina.
• Abnormal vaginal discharge also may occur.
• Prolonged periods or bleeding between periods.
• Weight loss.
• Pelvic pain, especially late in the disease.
• Thin white or clear vaginal discharge after menopause.
• Extremely long, heavy, or frequent episodes of vaginal bleeding after age 40.

Treatment of Uterus Cancer

Here is list of the methods for treating Uterus Cancer:

• The most common initial treatment for uterine cancer involves surgery to remove the uterus.
• Patients with aggressive forms of uterine cancer or who are considered to be at high risk for recurrence may need radiation therapy after surgery.
• Chemotherapy.
• Hormonal therapy.
• Progestin (synthetic progesterone) may be used to help stop the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
• Progesterone also regulates fulid balance, restores libido, and helps to build bone. Replacement of estrogen alone (estrogen replacement therapy or ERT) is often used for women who have had a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) since they no longer have a risk for uterine cancer.