Uterus Cancer

The most frequent type of cancer in the female reproductive system is uterine cancer. Uterine cancer develops when healthy cells in the uterus begin to alter and grow uncontrollably, resulting in a tumor.

Tumors can be malignant or non-cancerous. A malignant tumor has the potential to grow and spread to other areas of the body. A benign tumor can expand, but it will not spread to other parts of the body.

Uterine cancer is divided into two types:

1. Endometrial Cancer:

   The majority of uterine malignancies are of this type. It arises from the endometrium’s cells. Endometrial cancer is the common name for this type of cancer.

   Endometrioid carcinoma is a frequent subtype of endometrial cancer. Treatment for this type of cancer differs based on the tumor’s grade, how far it has spread into the uterus, and the disease’s stage or extent.

2. Uterine Sarcoma:

   This type of uterine cancer originates in the uterine glands’ supporting tissues or in the uterine muscle, the myometrium. Sarcoma contributes to approximately 2% to 4% of all uterine malignancies.

Symptoms of Uterine Cancer:

The symptoms of uterine cancer might be mistaken for those of a variety of other illnesses. This is especially true for diseases that affect the reproductive organs.

Endometrial cancer or uterine sarcoma symptoms include:

• Vaginal bleeding after menopause
• Bleeding between periods
• Lower abdominal pain or cramping in the pelvis.
• Thin white or clear vaginal discharge in postmenopausal women
• If you’re over 40, you may experience unusually long, heavy, or regular vaginal bleeding.

Causes and Risk Factors for Uterus Cancer

Doctors don’t know what causes endometrial cancer. What is known is that something causes changes (mutations) in the DNA of cells in the endometrium, or uterine lining.

Normal, healthy cells become abnormal as a result of the mutation. Healthy cells proliferate and replicate at a predetermined rate before dying at a predetermined period. Abnormal cells multiply and develop out of control, and they don’t perish. The aberrant cells that are collecting form a bulk (tumor). Cancer cells infiltrate adjacent tissues and can break out from a primary tumor to spread to other parts of the body (metastasize).

Factors that increase the risk of uterine/ endometrial cancer include:

• Imbalance of female hormones in the body: Fluctuations in the balance of female hormones in the body can increase the risk of uterus cancer.
• Longer menstruating years: Early onset of menstruation, or late menopause increases the risk of endometrial cancer.
• No Pregnancy: Women who have never been pregnant are at a higher risk of endometrial cancer than someone who has had at least one pregnancy.
• Aging: Aging increases your risk of endometrial cancer.
• Obesity: Being obese increases your risk of endometrial cancer.

When is Endometrial Cancer Treatment Needed?

If you are suffering from any of the above-mentioned symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately who would advise tests to confirm the diagnosis. If you are diagnosed with endometrial cancer, you need to start the treatment immediately.

How is Endometrial Cancer Treatment Done?

Treatment for uterus cancer is determined by several criteria, including the cancer’s stage, any other health issues you may have, and your personal preferences. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy or a combination of various treatments can all be used to treat endometrial cancer.

Surgery: Endometrial cancer is usually treated by a hysterectomy, which entails removing the uterus as well as the fallopian tubes and ovaries (salpingo-oophorectomy). A hysterectomy prevents you from becoming pregnant in the future. You’ll also go through menopause if your ovaries are removed, if you haven’t already.

Your surgeon will also look for symptoms of cancer spreading surrounding your uterus during the operation. Lymph nodes may also be removed for testing by your surgeon. This aids in determining the stage of your cancer.

Radiation therapy: To kill cancer cells, radiation therapy employs high-energy beams such as X-rays and protons. Your doctor may offer radiation to lower your chances of a cancer return following surgery in specific cases.

Radiation therapy may be recommended before surgery in some cases to reduce a tumor and make it easier to remove. If you aren’t in good enough health to have surgery, radiation therapy may be your only option.

Radiation therapy can include the following procedures:

• Radiation emitted by a machine located outside of your body. You lie on a table as a machine distributes radiation to particular points on your body during external beam radiotherapy.
• Radiation that is injected into your body. Internal radiation (brachytherapy) entails inserting a radiation-filled device, such as small seeds, wires, or a cylinder, into your vaginal cavity for a brief period.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that involves the use of chemicals to kill cancer cells. You may receive a single chemotherapy treatment or a combination of two or more drugs.

Chemotherapy medications can be either orally or injected into your veins (intravenously). These medications enter your bloodstream and kill cancer cells as they move through your body.

Chemotherapy may be prescribed following surgery if there is a chance that the cancer will return. Chemotherapy can also be used prior to surgery to shrink the size of the tumor, making it more likely to be entirely eliminated during surgery.

Hormone therapy: Hormone therapy entails taking drugs to reduce the body’s hormone levels. Cancer cells that rely on hormones to develop could perish as a result. If you have advanced endometrial cancer that has gone beyond the uterus, hormone therapy may be an option.

Targeted drug therapy: Targeted medication treatments concentrate on specific defects found in cancer cells. Targeted medication treatments can kill cancer cells by preventing them from exploiting these defects. For advanced endometrial cancer, targeted medication therapy is frequently paired with chemotherapy.

Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a medicine that boosts your immune system’s ability to fight cancer. Because cancer cells create proteins that blind immune system cells, your body’s disease-fighting immune system may not target cancer. Immunotherapy works by interfering with the immune system’s natural processes. If endometrial cancer has progressed and other treatments have failed, immunotherapy may be tried.

What Results can I expect from Cancer Treatment?

The results of the treatment depend on the stage of the uterus cancer. If detected early, there is a good chance of complete recovery.

What is the Recovery after Uterus Cancer Surgery Like?

Uterus removal surgery for endometrial cancer is a major surgery. An abdominal hysterectomy usually requires 3 to 7 days in the hospital. After an abdominal radical hysterectomy, the average hospital stay is 5 to 7 days.

It can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to fully recover.