Uterine Cancer: Complications, Testing and How to Deal with It

The uterus is a very sensitive female reproductive organ. It is a pear shaped hollow region that is located between bladder and rectum. This organ in colloquial terms is also referred to as the womb. It is in this organ that the fetus develops during a woman’s pregnancy. It plays a major role in childbirth and fertility. This organ is also responsible in the initializing of puberty in girls.
Endometriosis, growth of fibroids and polyps in urethral lining, tumors, pelvic pain and also cancer of the uterus are very few disorders afflicting the reproductive system of a woman. endometrial-uterine-cancer
Read on to find out more about uterine cancer, causes of this cancer, testing to diagnose the same, symptoms that suggest you could have it, surgical options, risks and benefits attached to it. Also find out the types of uterine cancers. 

What is uterine cancer?

Also termed as endometrial cancer, uterine cancer occurs in the urethral lining in females.

How does uterine cancer begin to form?

Healthy cells in uterus multiply abnormally and give rise to tumors. This is when unhealthy growths start happening in the uterus, giving birth to cancer of uterus. In uterine cancer, Endometrial lining thickens leading to endometrial hyperplasia and then cancer of womb.

What are the types of uterine cancers?

Uterine cancer has following types:

  • Sarcoma:-

This type is also termed as uterine sarcoma or leiomyosarcoma. This is a very rare type of uterine cancer. It originates from the muscle layer of the uterus. This type of uterine cancer develops in the supporting tissues of the uterine glands or in the myometrium, which is the uterine muscle. Sarcoma accounts for about 2% to 4% of uterine cancers. Sarcomas are treated differently than adenocarcinomas in most situations. Leiomyosarcoma, or endometrial stromal sarcoma are types of sarcoma.

  • Adenocarcinoma:-

The term adeno means something related to glands and carcinoma means any of the cancers that originate from the epithelial tissue of the skin or the lining of internal organs. Adenocarcinoma collectively means the cancerous tumors formed in glandular tissues. Adenocarcinoma has 3 sub-types:

1. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma:

More than 3 out of 4 adenocarcinomas of the womb lining are this type. Endometrioid is pronounced endo-mee-tree-oyd. These type of cancers are treated successfully as they are diagnosed at an early stage. Endometrioid carcinoma
Endometrial cancer is further sub-divided into different types. When both the glandular cells and squamous cells are cancerous, it is called adenosquamous carcinoma.

2. Papillary serous carcinoma:

This is a very rare cancerous condition in comparison with endometrial cancers. Only 5% womb cancers are of this type. Even if it is totally cured, it has the capability to relapse; which is a very grave disadvantage.

3. Clear cell carcinoma:

Doctors sometimes divide endometrial cancers into 2 types. Type 1 cancers are the most common. They are usually endometrioid adenocarcinomas, and are linked to excess oestrogen in the body. They are generally slow growing and less likely to spread. Type 2 cancers include papillary serous carcinomas and clear cell carcinomas. These cancers are not linked to excess oestrogen. They are generally faster growing and more likely to spread.

  • Uterine carcinosarcoma:

Carcinosarcoma is a rare type of womb cancer. It has features of both endometrial cancer and sarcoma when looked at under the microscope. Doctors class carcinosarcomas as a type of endometrial cancer as they have similar risk factors and behave in a similar way. They generally treat them as a type 2 endometrial cancer.

What are the causes of uterine cancer?

There are a wide number of reasons that could lead to cancer of uterus in women. Few of them are as listed below:

  • Obesity
  • Age
  • Endometrial Hyperplasia
  • Diabetes
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
  • Hormonal imbalance
  1. Obesity: Medical experts have found out that women who are over-weight have 3 times more risk of contracting uterine cancer ascompared to their healthier counterparts. Estrogen is present in higher levels in obese women and so this increases their risk of getting cancer of uterus.
  2. Age: The chances of getting uterine cancer multiplies with advancing age of women. Therefore, women ranging in their forties to senior citizens in their sixties and seventies have equal chances of developing uterine cancer.
  3. Endometrial Hyperplasia: Women suffering from endometrial hyperplasia are at higher risk of suffering from cancer of uterus.
  4. Diabetes: Occurrence of diabetes leads to increased levels of estrogen in women suffering from high blood sugar. Studies suggest that women suffering from diabetes have two times more risk of acquiring womb cancer than healthy women. uterine-cancer-causes
  5. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): It is a condition which could lead to womb cancer. Women suffering from PCOS have problems in conceiving, have irregular and no periods and also have ovarian cysts. Abnormally high levels of estrogen is the main cause that leads to womb cancer.
  6. Hormonal imbalance: If progesterone and estrogen hormonal levels aren’t in balance, they can wreak havoc in the body leading to an increased risk of uterine cancer in women. Increased estrogen levels can divide healthy cells in endometrial lining, thus leading to womb cancer.

What are the diagnostic tests to know if you could be suffering from uterine cancer?

A visit to the gynecologist may result in undergoing few radiological and pathological tests for confirming or contradicting doubts whether you are suffering or likely to suffer from womb cancer. Few of the tests you might be made to undergo are as follows:

  1. Pap Smear: A Pap smear test entails extracting cells present in a woman’s cervix for examination purposes. A Pap test can detect cervical cancer, ovarian and uterine cancers. It also detects changes in your cervical cells that may heighten your risk of cervical cancer in future. Earlier diagnosis of cervical, ovarian & uterine cancer will help in concluding, whether or not there is need of undergoing cancer surgery. To read more about ovarian cancer surgery click here.
  2. Dilation & Curettage: Dilation and curettage surgery is done to detect any abnormalities in the tissues inside uterus and also for identification of uterine cancer, polyps, fibroids, hormonal imbalances. Dilation involves insertion of a long thin rod inside the vagina for widening the cervix. Whereas, curettage involves scraping of uterine lining for taking out tissue therein for sampling purpose.
  3. Cystoscopy: A cystoscope is an optical instrument having an eyepiece on one end and camera lens on the other. It enables the doctor to look through the uterus. A cystoscopy is done for detecting urinary infections, stones in the urinary tract and also cancers of reproductive system including that of uterus.
  4. Hysteroscopy: Hysteroscopy is a medical procedure employed by gynecologists for examining lining of uterus. diagnosing-uterine-cancerCauses of abnormal bleeding and ascertaining whether tumors inside uterus are indeed uterine cancer is done through this procedure.
  5. Ultrasound: The ultrasound scanning which is applicable in this context is transvaginal pelvic ultrasound. Like regular ultrasound, this type also makes use of sound waves for generating images of uterus. A wand like instrument called transducer is used for examining the pelvic region. Tissues from the vaginal area are taken out for analyzing the exact issue. This type of ultrasound ascertains presence of uterine cancer and any other type of cancer of reproductive system in women.
  6. Computed Tomography (CT Scan): Computed Tomography is an imaging type that generates multiple cross-sectional images of the entire body or certain body part. In this context, Computed Tomography is seldom used for diagnosing uterine cancer. But, majority of the times it is used for checking if the cancer tumors have spread to the remaining body.
  7. MRI scan: As the name suggests, this diagnostic test type uses magnetic technology and radio waves for creating images of the concerned organ. Detailed images of uterus are created by the radio waves and transferred to a computer for investigating causes and complications ushered in because of uterine cancer. Also, endometrial cancer progression is tracked using this diagnostic test.
  8. Biopsy: Biopsy is done either after extracting a small amount of tissues or used in combination with imaging modalities like X-ray, ultrasound, MRI etc. Cancerous and non cancerous growths can be diagnosed using a biopsy. Biopsies are of different variety such as, abdominal, endometrial, liver, muscle, testicular etc. A biopsy can pinpoint origin of the cancer and the place where it started and spread elsewhere in the body. Biopsies are performed in conjunction with MRI, CT scan or ultrasound for better results.
  9. CA-125 (Tumor Marker) Test: Cancer Antigen 125 is a diagnostic test ordered by the doctor for tracking cancers in endometrial lining, peritoneal layer, ovaries and fallopian tubes. Cancer Antigen 125 is a protein present in cells when the female is suffering from ovarian and uterine cancer. A blood sample is taken out from the patient’s body for analyzing CA-125 levels in their body. Higher levels of this protein can help the doctor in knowing that it could be beginning of cancer of the womb. Although, it is important to note that uterine fibroids, liver disease, pancreatitis etc. can also be a cause of higher CA-125 levels.
  10. Complete Blood Count: A CBC measures red and white blood cells along with platelet count. Low count of red blood cells could be due to presence of cancerous tumors in uterus. The low white blood cell count is due to loss of blood from uterine wall.
  11. Hysterosalpingography (HSG): Fluoroscopy is an imaging procedure used in Hysterosalpingography test that detects abnormalities in uterus, causes of miscarriage, cancerous and non cancerous growths in uterus, blocked fallopian tubes, tumors etc. Fallopian tubes and uterus is imaged in an HSG test using a special type of X-ray and contrast material.

What are the symptoms of uterine cancer?

Symptoms that characterize uterine cancer change according to persons. uterine-cancer-symptomsHowever, few of the common symptoms that are characteristic of this cancer are as follows:

  • Abnormal bleeding: Abnormal bleeding from vagina is a common symptom of uterine cancer. If it happens in a woman after attaining menopause, then it is a tell-tale sign that she could be having uterine cancer.
  • Heavy periods: Excessive loss of blood than usual during menstrual cycles could be a symptom of womb cancer.
  • Pelvic lump: Lumps in pelvic region and pain in that region along with aching legs and back is symptomatic of uterine cancer.
  • Bowel habits: Changed bowel habits also signify occurrence of endometrial cancer.
  • Difficulty in urination: Painful urination and inability to control urge to urinate is a symptom associated with uterine cancer.
  • Pain during sexual intercourse: Sometimes, you may even experience some pain during sexual intercourse. This may happen due to development of cancerous tumors in uterine cavity.

What is the diet one must take if they suffer from uterine cancer?

Uterine cancer is highly probable in women who are in their 40s and above. Also, treatment should be immediately started after getting diagnosed with this cancer type. Following a healthy and balanced diet is very important. Diets especially chalked out for uterine cancer treatments are high on anti-oxidants and low on fats. Incorporating fresh fruits, beans, nuts, whole wheat, lean chicken, brown rice in everyday diet of cancer patients is what will gear them up for the long way till the cancer is totally cured.

What are the ways to prevent uterine cancer?

Prevention is always better than cure. Although there is no proven way to completely prevent this disease, nevertheless you should be able to work and lower your risk of getting the same. uterine-cancer-preventionHave a discussion with your doctor to assess your own risk of getting diagnosed with cancer.

  • Birth control pills: Birth control pills are known to have a preventive effect on endometrial cancer. However, it is better to discuss about this contraceptive method with your gynecologist.
  • Healthy weight: Maintaining a healthy weight and minimum fat around your waist is not only good for your overall health, but also in preventing cancer of the womb. Maintaining a healthy body-mass index also plays a key role in preventing this type of cancer.
  • Regular fitness regime: Adhering to a strict fitness regime that is not skipped even for a day, helps you in keeping away from gaining weight. If you do not gain weight, then the risks of contracting cancer of uterine lining is reduced.
  • Childbirth: More progesterone is created during pregnancy than any other time. Multiple pregnancies are known to reduce the risk of womb cancer in women.
  • Intrauterine device: Researches show that women using intrauterine devices as birth control methods also have protection against endometrial cancer.

Doctors advising patients to undergo tests for diagnosis is not common. Hence, pay heed to the same if it comes from your own doctor. Also, not ignoring the signals your body gives you from time to time goes a long way; not only in curbing cancer, but reducing intensity of the same too.

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