- Symptoms of endometrial cancer
- Possible causes
- How the treatment is done
- Can endometrial cancer be cured?
Endometrial cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women over 60 years of age and is characterized by the presence of malignant cells in the inner wall of the uterus that leads to symptoms such as bleeding between periods or after menopause, pelvic pain and weight loss.
Endometrial cancer is curable when identified and treated in early stages, and treatment is usually done through surgical procedures.
Symptoms of endometrial cancer
Endometrial cancer can cause some characteristic symptoms, the main ones being:
- Bleeding between normal periods or after menopause; Abundant and frequent menstruation; Pelvic or colic pain; White or transparent vaginal discharge after menopause; Weight loss.
In addition, if there is metastasis, that is, the appearance of tumor cells in other parts of the body, other symptoms related to the affected organ may appear, such as bowel or bladder obstruction, coughing, difficulty breathing, jaundice and enlarged ganglia. lymphatic.
The gynecologist must make the diagnosis of endometrial cancer by means of exams such as pelvic endovaginal ultrasound, magnetic resonance, preventive, endometrial biopsy, curettage, to guide the appropriate treatment.
Possible causes
The causes of endometrial cancer are not yet well established, but there are some factors that can favor the onset of cancer, such as obesity, a diet rich in animal fat, high blood pressure, diabetes, endometrial hyperplasia, early menstruation and late menopause.
In addition, endometrial cancer can be favored by hormone therapy, with greater production of estrogen and little or no production of progesterone. Other conditions that can favor endometrial cancer are polycystic ovary syndrome, absence of ovulation, genetic predisposition and family history.
How the treatment is done
The treatment of endometrial cancer is usually done through surgery, in which the uterus, tubes, ovaries and lymph nodes of the pelvis are removed, when necessary. In some cases, treatment also includes additional therapies, such as chemotherapy, brachytherapy, radiotherapy or hormone therapy, which should be indicated by the oncologist according to the needs of each patient.
The consultation for periodic examinations with a gynecologist and the control of risk factors such as diabetes and obesity is essential for this disease to be treated properly.
Can endometrial cancer be cured?
Endometrial cancer is curable when it is diagnosed in the initial phase of the disease and is treated appropriately according to the stage of staging, which takes into account the spread of cancer (metastasis) and affected organs.
In general, endometrial cancer is classified into grades 1, 2 and 3, with grade 1 being the least aggressive and grade 3 being the most aggressive, in which metastasis can be observed in the inner wall of the intestine, bladder or other organs.
