People with uterine cancer may experience a number of symptoms. Symptoms and signs can help describe a medical problem. Some people with cancer do not have any of the symptoms. A medical condition that is not cancer may be the cause of a sign. The most common symptom of endometrial cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding, which can be watery and blood-streaked. Bleeding in the vagina is a sign of a problem. Pain in the Pelvic area is the result of abnormal Pap test results. Menorrhagia is an abnormal bleeding before the start of menopause. Abnormal vaginal bleeding before or after the start of the menopause can be a symptom.
Relieved symptoms are an important part of cancer care and treatment if uterine cancer is diagnosed. “Managing symptoms” can be called “palliative and supportive care” This guide has a section on cope with treatment. The next section is Diagnosis. It explains what tests may be needed to find out what is causing the symptoms.
How is womb cancer treated?
The most common treatment for womb cancer is the surgical removal of the womb. You will not be able to get pregnant if you have a hysterectomy. Sometimes radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy are used in conjunction with surgery. If you are still interested in having children, you may be able to use a type of hormone therapy. Even if your cancer is advanced and the chances of a cure are small, treatment can still help to relieve symptoms and prolong your life.
What are the symptoms of uterine cancer?
Many conditions can have similar signs of uterine cancer. There are symptoms of endometrial cancer or uterine sarcoma. Bleeding or spotting after menopause is a small amount. Lower abdominal pain is below your belly. If you’re postmenopausal, you can have a vaginal discharge that is thin white or clear. If you are older than 40 you can experience vaginal bleeding. Proper treatment can be obtained if you have an accurate diagnosis.
Living with womb cancer
A hysterectomy is usually done on women with womb cancer. Recovery can take from 6 to 12 weeks. Lifting things and doing heavy housework will be avoided during this time. You won’t be able to drive for a few weeks after the operation. Some treatments for cancer can make you tired. You may need to take a break from some of your normal activities. If you need help, ask for it from your family and friends. The recovery time depends on a number of factors, including the type of surgery you have, and what type of work you will return to.
Diagnose endometrial cancer
Endometrium tests are used to diagnose cancer. Endometrial cancer is not usually seen in the results of a Pap test. A sample of endometrial tissue must be removed and checked for cancer cells under a microscope. Endometrial biopsy, hysteroscopy, dilatation and curettage are some of the procedures that may be used. The procedure is called a Dilatation and Curettage and is used to remove tissue from the uterus. The tissue samples are checked for signs of disease by a pathologist under a microscope and the tissue is then removed and examined again under a microscope for any signs of disease.
The uterus is being removed with a curette, which is a spoon-shaped instrument. The procedure is called a cervix dilator and is used to look at the cervix from inside the uterus. A hysteroscope is inserted into the uterus. It is used to look for abnormal areas in the uterus. A hysteroscope is a thin tube-like instrument with a light and a lens.
It may have a tool to remove tissue samples that are checked for signs of cancer.
Menstrual and reproductive history
If you start your period before 12 you are more likely to get uterine cancer. Estradiol is exposed to your uterus for more years. If menopause occurs after 50, the risk increases. People who haven’t been pregnant have a higher risk of being pregnant. The number of years menstruating might be more important than your age when periods start or end.
Signs and symptoms of cancer of the uterus
Unusual vaginal bleeding is the most common symptom of uterus cancer. This may include a change in your periods heavier than usual, bleeding between periods, or spotting after menopause. A smelly vaginal discharge is a less common symptom. In rare cases, symptoms include abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, difficulty urinating or a change in bowel habit. If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor.
What type of uterine cancer surgery will I need?
The primary treatment for endometrial cancer is surgery. The surgeon will most likely remove your uterus and cervix. If cancer has spread to your uterus, you may need a radical hysterectomy. Most people need this extra step to make sure that cancer is removed. Lymph nodes dissection is to see if the cancer has spread. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is a procedure to remove your reproductive organs. Lymph nodes dissection is to see if the cancer has been removed from the lymph nodes. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomies remove your fallopian tubes.
Stages
The stage of a cancer is how far it has advanced. Discuss the staged uterine sarcomas with your specialist. Stage 1 means the cancer is found in the uterus. Stage 2 means the cancer has spread to the other side of the body. Thirdly, stage 3 means that it has spread to the reproductive organs. Lastly, stage 4 means the cancer have spread to other parts of the body, such as the bladder, bowel, or rectum. Ask your doctor or nurse about the stage of the cancer.
Stage III
Cancer has spread beyond the uterus and the cervix, but not beyond the pelvis. Stage III is divided into four stages based on how far the cancer has spread. Cancer has spread to the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and the ligaments of the uterus in Stage IIIA. Cancer can spread to the vagina and/or the parametrium. It has spread to the vasalia, the largest blood vessel in the body, which carries blood from the heart to the uterus and back to the vasalia.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation to the area of the body with cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. External and internal radiation therapy can be used to treat endometrial cancer, and may also be used to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Hormone therapy
Oestrogen is a female hormone. These cancers may respond to treatment. The hormone progesterone is usually replaced by a hormone called hormones. Artificial progesterone is given as tablets. It’s used to treat womb cancers that have come back. It can help control the symptoms of the cancer. Mild nausea, muscle cramps, and weight gain are possible side effects of the treatment. Your doctor will discuss with you if this is a treatment for your cancer.
What’s the survival rate for people with uterine cancer?
The five-year survival rate for endometrial cancer is very high. The number of people who are alive five years after being diagnosed is 81%. When cancer hasn’t spread outside your uterus, the rate is even higher. The survival rate goes up to as high as 95 percent. Treatments and survival rates are improving. When uterine cancer is not diagnosed, it can be fatal. Early detection and treatment can help with a favorable outcome.
Bladder changes
Bladder problems can be caused by cancer of the uterus. When urine leaks from your bladder, it’s called incontinence. You may feel like you want to urinate frequently or have a burning sensation when you pee. Blood can show up in your urine months or years after treatment.
At what age is uterine cancer most common?
There are two types of cancer that are included in uterus cancer: endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma. It’s the most common cancer affecting a person’s reproductive system. Vaginal bleeding after menopause is a symptom of uterus cancer. Surgery can cure uterine cancer if healthcare providers catch it early. If you have any symptoms of uterus cancer, contact your healthcare provider. The average age of women is 51.
Radiotherapy
The spread of womb cancer may be slowed by radiotherapy. There are two types of radiotherapy used for womb cancer. External and internal radiation treatment are done in the same way, but the external treatment is delivered via a machine while the internal treatment is done with a plastic tube. External radiotherapy is usually given as an outpatient for 5 days a week with a break at the weekend. Depending on the stage and position of the womb cancer, the course of radiotherapy may last 4 weeks. There are some side effects of radiotherapy. Hair loss can occur in the treated area.
Women with a uterus can have internal and external radiation. Your doctor will discuss this with you. You will have to stay in the hospital. The treatment takes a few minutes and is usually given as an outpatient. There are different brachytherapy methods, involving different dose rates. The device has to stay inside for longer with low dose rate methods. Radiotherapy to the Pelvic area can cause sickness and diarrhoea. You’re likely to get very tired as your treatment progresses. When your treatment is over, most of the side effects will disappear.
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