Diseases

Cancer that develops during perimenopause is endometrial cancer. This cancer occurs at the time of menopause.
Hormonal changes during menopause cause the inner lining of the uterus to become inflamed, which can turn into cancer.

What causes endometrial cancer?

This cancer is caused by changes in the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body. When the level of these hormones increases or decreases. Then the possibility of this cancer increases. Endometrial cells begin to divide or complete i.e. an imbalance occurs. Endometrial cells undergo genetic changes that cause cancer cells to grow rapidly and form tumors.

It also known as uterine cancer, develops in the lining of the uterus, which is called the endometrium. While the exact cause of endometrial cancer is not always clear, several risk factors and contributing factors have been identified:

1. Hormonal Imbalance: The most significant risk factor for endometrial cancer is an excess of estrogen relative to progesterone in the body. This hormonal imbalance can stimulate the growth of the endometrial lining, potentially leading to cancer.
2. Age: Endometrial cancer is more common in postmenopausal women, typically occurring in women over the age of 50. This is because menopause is often associated with hormonal changes.
3. Obesity: Obesity is strongly linked to endometrial cancer. Fat tissues can produce estrogen, and excess body fat can result in higher estrogen levels, increasing the risk.
4. Reproductive Factors: Women who have never been pregnant or who had their first pregnancy after the age of 30 may have a higher risk of endometrial cancer. Likewise, women who have never used oral contraceptives or have irregular menstrual cycles may be at increased risk.
5. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Some forms of hormone replacement therapy, particularly estrogen alone without progesterone, have been associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer.
6. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is a hormonal disorder that can lead to irregular menstrual cycles and obesity, both of which are risk factors for endometrial cancer.
7. Diabetes: Women with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of endometrial cancer, likely due to the association between diabetes and obesity.
8. Hereditary Factors: A small percentage of endometrial cancers are linked to hereditary factors, such as Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer or HNPCC) or certain gene mutations (e.g., PTEN gene mutations).
9. Personal History: Women who have had endometrial hyperplasia, a condition in which the uterine lining becomes too thick, are at increased risk for endometrial cancer.
10. Family History: If close relatives (e.g., mother, sister) have had endometrial or colorectal cancer, your risk may be higher.

It’s important to note that having one or more of these risk factors doesn’t guarantee that you will develop it, and many women with these risk factors never develop the disease. Regular check-ups with a healthcare provider, especially if you have multiple risk factors, can help with early detection and management if needed. Additionally, lifestyle factors like maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, and managing chronic conditions like diabetes can help reduce the risk of endometrial cancer.

Symptoms of endometrial cancer

• The most common symptom of this cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding.
• Apart from this, there is a change in the length of menstruation or the amount of menstruation.
• Bleeding also occurs during menopause
• Pain in lower abdomen and pelvis.
• Watery vaginal bleeding.
• Lose weight completely.
• Pain during sex.
• Periods are very heavy in the perimenopause stage.
• Recurrence occurs after periods of six to eight months have stopped. Severe abdominal pain during periods.

Stages of endometrial cancer

Stage 1: Cancer has not spread beyond the body of the uterus.
Stage 2: Cancer has spread from the body of the uterus to the cervical stock.
Stage 3: Cancer has spread to the outer surface of the uterus or the fallopian tubes outside the uterus. Spread outside the uterus to the fallopian tubes, ovaries, lymph nodes, or even the vagina.
Stage 4: Cancer has spread to distant organs such as the bladder, stomach or lungs, liver, or bones.
Various tests are done to determine which stage one is in.

The best test to diagnose endometrial cancer is to take a sample of tissue from the inner lining of the uterus.
Apart from this, MRI, CT scan, and chest x-ray are done
coming.

What are the greatest risk factors for endometrial cancer?

The risk of this cancer increases with increasing age. This cancer mostly occurs between 45 to 74 years of age. Unbalanced changes in hormone levels, certain medical conditions are responsible for it.
The risk of this cancer is also due to heredity. If someone has a history of this cancer in the family, the chances of developing this cancer are higher.
Obesity is also one of the risk factors for this cancer.

How can the risk of endometrial cancer be reduced?

It is important to maintain a healthy weight to reduce the risk of this cancer.
Doing a regular physical activity like yoga exercises etc.
If abnormal vaginal bleeding occurs, seek immediate treatment.
Examine your family history. If you have a family history of certain types of cancer, you should get tested early. So that you can diagnose it well and properly in the pre-stage.

What is a hysterectomy?

The surgical removal of the uterus is called a hysterectomy. In this cancer, this method involves removing the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
A biopsy is first done to determine the stage and grade of cancer. and lymph nodes are examined.
Diagnosing this cancer at an early stage depends on how much cancer affects your reproductive system. In a full hysterectomy, the cervix and uterus are removed.
In a condition like endometriosis, the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows out, causing pain. In a condition such as adenomyosis, the tissue lining the inside of the uterus grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. This causes a lot of pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. In both these situations, the need for a hysterectomy arises.

Hysterectomy is done in two ways.

1. Laparoscopic
2. Abdominal incision surgery

In laparoscopy, surgery is performed using a small camera and special instruments. During this, a small incision is made through which the instrument is inserted into the abdomen. All subsequent things we can observe on the monitor. The doctor also observes all the monitors.

Abdominal incision surgery involves a large incision in the lower abdomen. thereby removing the uterus and fallopian tubes. This type of surgery leaves a scar on the abdomen as a large hole is made so that the doctor can easily see the organs.

There are 3 different types of hysterectomy.

• In which both the uterus and cervix are removed in a full hysterectomy.
• In Subtotal hysterectomy, only the upper part of the uterus is simply removed. No surgery is performed on the cervix.
• In a radical hysterectomy, the uterus, cervix, and upper part of the vagina are removed. A radical hysterectomy is usually performed to treat cervical cancer.

Side effects of hysterectomy

• It is a major operation, which has a long-term impact on a woman’s health.
• Difficulty in doing office work.
• Heavy bleeding and spotting.
• There is a possibility of infection.
• Fever and lung problems.
• Intestinal inflammation.

There is an increase in cases of breast cancer worldwide. The main reason for this is that we do not take care of our health or our lifestyle is not the same as before.

You will be surprised to know that breast cancer is found in women and men. Yes, now medical science has advanced so much that the treatment options are more, and the death rate has decreased but the number of cases is increasing.

What is breast cancer?

Generally, when the number of cells in that part of the body starts to increase more than necessary, that part is called cancer. Similarly, when the number of cells in the breast starts to increase, breast cancer starts.

It also has different types depending on which cells in the basal layer turn cancerous.
cancer cells form a lump that you can see on an X-ray or feel as a lump or lump.

Symptoms of breast cancer

• A lump in the breast or armpit.
• A change in the shape of the nipple or a change in the color of the nipple.
• Any type of discharge or bleeding from the nipple.
• Thickening or swelling of any part of the breast.
• Irritation of the skin at the site Nipple stretching or pain in the nipple.
• Breast tightening.
• The skin on the breast or nipple peeling and tightening,
• Any change in breast shape or size or pain in any area,

Why is the risk of developing breast cancer higher in women?

• The risk of cancer is highest among women who started their periods before the age of twelve and after the age of 50, i.e. around 55, if menopause occurs.
• Carelessness in eating also increases the risk of cancer. Excessive intake of ketchup, sports drinks, chocolate, etc. increases cancer cells. Fat from processed foods is also harmful to the breast. Burgers, french fries, chaat, red meat, etc. can also cause cancer.
• Apart from this, our degraded lifestyle is also responsible for this women are not physically active as well as they gain weight, women avoid exercise if they can’t do heavy exercise then some light exercise like walking, yoga, meditation, etc. 30 minutes time should be given to oneself every day.
• Obesity Cancer also occurs due to increasing obesity in women, especially after menopause, the risk of this increases as fat accumulates in the body.
• Heredity
• Drugs given during hormonal therapy at an increasing age increase the risk of cancer if taken for more than five years. Taking too many birth control pills also increases the risk of cancer.
• Factors such as getting married at a late age and then planning a baby at a late age or not breastfeeding are responsible for cancer. Nowadays, women who avoid breastfeeding for fear of losing their figure are at higher risk. Breastfeeding maintains the balance of hormones. Women who do not breastfeed lose their hormonal balance and increase the risk of breast cancer.
• Excessive use of plastic increases the risk of cancer. The chemicals in plastic damage the hormonal system of the body.
• Alcohol consumption is increasing due to increasing addiction in women, which increases hormone levels.

Breast cancer screening

Breast screening means examining a woman’s breast when signs or symptoms of the disease appear.
A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast that is the best way to detect breast cancer early. Regular mammograms reduce the risk of dying from cancer.

Can men get breast cancer?

This is not surprising to know as breast cancer affects not only women but also men; factors like alcohol and smoking are responsible for this apart from obesity.

Causes of breast cancer in men

In men, Klinefelter syndrome increases the risk of cancer. In men, when the X chromosome is increased, the level of a hormone called estrogen increases, and this syndrome occurs, causing rapid breast growth.
Changes in genes i.e. genetic mutations cause breast cancer apart from testicular problems and cancer.

Which way to watch out for?

If the breast starts to look swollen or a tumor starts to form, and the skin around the breast changes color, red, wrinkled, or fluid comes out of the breast, then get checked by a doctor.

What are the Stages of Breast Cancer?

It is typically categorized into stages to describe the extent and severity of the disease. The stages of breast cancer are determined by factors such as the size of the tumor, whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and whether it has metastasized (spread) to other parts of the body. The most common staging system used for breast cancer is the TNM system, which stands for Tumor, Nodes, and Metastasis. Here are the stages of cancer according to this system:

1. Stage 0 (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ – DCIS): In this stage, cancerous cells are confined to the milk ducts and have not invaded nearby breast tissues. It is often considered a pre-cancerous stage.
2. Stage I: At this stage, the tumor is small (usually less than 2 cm) and hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
3. Stage II: This stage is divided into two sub-stages:

• Stage IIA: The tumor is either smaller than 2 cm but has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary lymph nodes) OR the tumor is between 2-5 cm but hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes.
• Stage IIB: The tumor is between 2-5 cm and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, or the tumor is larger than 5 cm but hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes.

1. Stage III: Stage III is further divided into three sub-stages:

• Stage IIIA: The tumor is smaller than 5 cm, but it has spread to nearby lymph nodes, which are clumped together or attached to other structures.
• Stage IIIB: The tumor may be any size, and it has invaded the chest wall or the skin of the breast. It may or may not have spread to nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage IIIC: Cancer has spread extensively to lymph nodes, either under the arm (axillary lymph nodes) or above or below the collarbone (infraclavicular or supraclavicular lymph nodes). The size of the tumor may vary.

1. Stage IV (Metastatic Breast Cancer): In this advanced stage, cancer has spread to other organs of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain. It may also be referred to as Stage IV or metastatic breast cancer.

The stage of breast cancer is a crucial factor in determining treatment options and predicting the prognosis. Early-stage (Stages 0, I, and some cases of Stage II) often has a better prognosis and is more likely to be treated successfully. Advanced-stage breast cancer (Stages III and IV) may require more aggressive treatments and can have a more guarded prognosis.

It’s important to note that breast cancer staging can be more complex, and other factors such as hormone receptor status, HER2/neu status, and molecular subtype can also influence treatment decisions. Patients should work closely with their healthcare team to understand their specific stages and treatment options.

Types of Breast Cancer

It is a complex disease with various types, each having distinct characteristics and treatment approaches. The most common types of breast cancer include:

1. Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS): DCIS is considered the earliest form of this cancer. It begins in the milk ducts of the breast but hasn’t invaded surrounding tissues. It is often non-invasive and highly treatable.
2. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC): This is the most common type of cancer, accounting for about 80% of all cases. IDC begins in the milk ducts but then invades surrounding breast tissue.
3. Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC): ILC originates in the milk-producing lobules of the breast. It’s the second most common type of invasive this cancer. ILC can be more challenging to detect through mammography than IDC.
4. Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: This type lacks receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and HER2/neu. It tends to be more aggressive and doesn’t respond to hormone therapy or drugs targeting HER2.
5. HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: These cancers have an overexpression of the HER2 protein. HER2-positive breast cancers can be treated with targeted therapies like Herceptin.
6. Estrogen Receptor-Positive (ER+) Breast Cancer: These cancers have receptors for estrogen, which means they may respond to hormone therapy to block estrogen’s effects and slow cancer growth.
7. Progesterone Receptor-Positive (PR+) Breast Cancer: Similar to ER+ breast cancer, these cancers have receptors for progesterone, and hormone therapy can also be effective.
8. Inflammatory Breast Cancer: This is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that can cause the breast to appear red and swollen. It’s often accompanied by breast warmth and tenderness.
9. Metastatic Breast Cancer: This is not a separate type but rather a stage of cancer. It occurs when cancer has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain.
10. Male Breast Cancer: Although breast cancer is much less common in men than in women, men can also develop it, usually invasive ductal carcinoma.

It’s important to note that there can be subtypes and variations within these primary types of breast cancer, and individual cases may have unique characteristics. Treatment options and outcomes vary depending on the type and stage of breast cancer, so a precise diagnosis is crucial for developing an appropriate treatment plan. Regular breast cancer screenings and self-exams can aid in early detection, which often leads to more successful treatment outcomes.