Endometrial Cancer

Description

# Endometrial cancer occurs most often in women 50-70 years of age.
# This is a very treatable cancer, with over 80% survival after 5 years. The earlier it is detected the better the prognosis
# In pre-menopausal women, the incidence of endometrial cancer (EC) is 5 times lower than the incidence of cervical cancer, but after 70 years of age they occur at the same frequency.
# There are two types of EC: type I and type II. Type I is estrogen-dependent, which appears mostly in pre- and perimenopausal women.
# Type II EC is estrogen-independent and is diagnosed mostly in postmenopausal women, thin and fertile women, or in women with normal menstrual cycles. It is aggressive and has a worse prognosis than type I.

Risk Factors

# Never having been pregnant
# Obesity
# Diabetes
# Polycystic ovary disease
# Taking estrogen without progesterone
# Tamoxifen use, a medication for breast cancer
# Symptoms
# Vaginal bleeding
# Pus from vagina
# Lower abdominal pain



Diagnosis

# Endometrial biopsy
# Hysteroscopy (scope passed through the cervix into the uterus)
# Ultrasound
# MRI



Similar Conditions

# Ovarian cancer
# Uterine fibroids



Treatment

# Total hysterectomy, including the ovaries
# Radiation treatment for more severe cases
# Progestins for advanced cancers



Prevention

# Progesterone (e.g., Provera) should be given in conjunction with estrogen replacement therapy during menopause.
# Women being treated for breast cancer now receive Tamoxifen for shorter durations, usually only 5 years. Consult an oncologist (cancer specialist) for exact recommendations.