The exact cause for uterus cancer is not known. You can have certain risk factors that lead to the development of uterus cancer.
This is the most common cancer in women. Some studies show the risk factors for spreading this cancer.
Endometrial hyperplasia: If you are a woman with endometrial hyperplasia, then the risk for this cancer is more than other women with out it.
Age: Uterus cancer occurs in women of age above 50 years.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Women without progesterone and who make use of estrogen have higher risk factor. Women treated with the combination of progesterone and estrogen have less risk than women with estrogen alone.
Race: White women are mostly affected than the American and African women.
Colorectal cancer: Women with inherited colorectal cancer have higher risk for developing this cancer.
After the menopause, the uterine cancer occurs. It can occur at the time of menopause beginning. The abnormal bleeding of vagina is not the cause for menopause. You should consult the doctor if these symptoms persist:
- Pain caused in pelvic area
- Painful or difficult urination
- Unusual discharge or vaginal bleeding
- Pain caused while intercourse
You will be advised to take urine and blood tests and other exams that include:
Pelvic exam: This exam involves checking the rectum, uterus, vagina and bladder. To find any lumps, the doctor can feel these organs. Speculum, an instrument is inserted into your vagina to see the upper part of cervix and vagina.
Pap test: The cells from your upper vagina and cervix are collected by doctor and tested for any abnormal cells in the laboratory. This can detect the cervix cancer. The inside cells cannot be shown on a pap test, so the doctor collects the sample of cells by biopsy method.
Transvaginal ultrasound: An instrument having high-frequency sound waves is inserted into your vagina. The pictures are created by the patterns of echoes produced by the instrument. The doctor goes for biopsy if endometrium appears thick.
Biopsy: The tissue sample is removed from uterus lining. Curettage and dilation are done to you under local anesthesia. The tissue is examined for the presence of hyperplasia, cancer cells and other cells. You can have vaginal bleeding and cramps after the biopsy.
Surgery, radiation therapy and hormonal therapy are used to treat this cancer.
The doctor removes the uterus by making an incision in the abdomen. Both the fallopian tubes and the two ovaries are also removed by surgery. This process is referred as bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy.
The tumor along with lymph nodes is removed to check the cancer cells.
Radiation therapy is done by using x-rays to kill the cancer cells. The remaining cells after surgery are removed by radiation therapy.
Hormonal therapy is done to prevent the cancer by using hormones. The uterine tissues are changed by the hormones linked with hormonal receptors. In this method, the progesterone is taken as pill.
You can get the treatment for uterus cancer by surgery, radiation therapy and hormonal therapy.
