Endometrial cancer – Causes, Symptoms and Care

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.