There are two types of cancer originating from the uterus: Endometrium (uterine lining cancer) cancers and sarcomas (from the muscle etc. connective tissues in the uterus).
Sarcomas are very rare. While they may arise from the muscle layer, vessels, and glands in the uterus, there may also be sarcomas that resemble tissues such as cartilage that are not found in the uterus. They spread rapidly and are not considered to be very good tumors because they are usually diagnosed at a late stage.
Endometrial cancers are more common and are even the most common gynecological cancers in the world, especially in developed countries.
Endometrial cancer. It is seen at all ages, but is more common around the age of 50. Although there is no specific early diagnosis test to be used in the early diagnosis of uterine lining cancer, it is considered among the lucky cancers. Since they mostly manifest themselves as abnormal menstrual bleeding, these cases are not neglected and the diagnosis can be made if a biopsy is taken with a simple curettage. As a matter of fact, 75% of endometrial cancers are detected at an early stage, and therefore the chance of definitive treatment and survival is higher than other gynecological cancers.
Risk Factors
Excess estrogen hormone unbalanced with progesterone hormone is the main reason for the formation of uterine cancer. factor. Risk factors are also associated with this. Although estrogen hormone is present in ovulation disorders (anovulation), progesterone hormone is not produced, therefore the risk of endometrial cancer increases in these patients. The risk also increases in estrogen-secreting ovarian tumors.
In addition, the risk increases in those who have never given birth, menstruated at an early age and entered menopause late, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Although the reason is unknown, smoking reduces the risk. Estrogen is the main risk factor, but it is the same in ovarian cancer. Although there is estrogen in birth control pills, it does not pose a risk because it is balanced with progesterone, and birth control pills even reduce the risk.
Endometrial cancer can rarely develop without the effect of estrogen. Endometrial cancer cases that develop due to estrogen effect behave better and have a higher chance of treatment.
Symptoms and Findings
The most common complaint is abnormal menstrual bleeding. Especially in bleeding that occurs during menopause, the risk of cancer is as high as 10%. In these patients, a biopsy must be taken with curettage. In advanced cases, pressure symptoms (urinary complaints, etc.) and pain may be observed. Sometimes, diagnosis can be made incidentally on ultrasound with thickening and irregularity in the inner lining of the uterus.
Diagnosis
Definitive diagnosis is made by biopsy. For this, an abortion procedure that can be performed in an outpatient clinic without surgery may be sufficient. When abortion is mentioned, it is usually understood as abortion. But in fact, in medical literature, abortion means “scraping.” Abortion can be performed to terminate the pregnancy or to obtain a pathological sample, that is, a biopsy.
In some cases, it can even be performed for therapeutic purposes to stop abnormal bleeding. Apart from curettage, a biopsy can be taken from the inner lining of the uterus with a special and thin instrument called a pipette. Which method will be chosen may vary depending on the patient's condition.
If the thickness of the inner lining of the uterus is more than 5 mm in the vaginal ultrasound performed on a menopausal patient, endometrial cancer should be suspected and a biopsy should be taken.
Treatment
Uterine cancer treatment is the removal of the uterus and ovaries together. Although surgery performed in this way is sufficient in the early stages, radiotherapy (radiation therapy) may be performed in addition to surgery in more advanced cases. In advanced cases where the cancer has spread further, radiotherapy and chemotherapy must be performed along with surgery. The chance of survival reaches 90% in the early stages, but this drops to 40% in the advanced stages. Since most cases are caught at an early stage, the survival rate is around 75% when all cases are taken into consideration.
It is important for such patients to apply without delay, as the chance of early diagnosis and definitive treatment is high and it most often manifests itself with abnormal bleeding.
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For women who have not stopped menstruating, especially when they have non-menstrual bleeding or when their bleeding is excessive and prolonged, you should definitely consult your Gynecologist.
Since the risk of cancer in post-menopausal bleeding is around 10%, all women in this period should consult their Gynecologist for any kind of bleeding. It is required.
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