Uterine Cancer and Early Detection

About 15% of cancers in women is uterine cancer. More or less 80,000 women were diagnosed in 2005 with cancer (pelvic gynecological malignancy) and a lot of these cases were uterine cancer. Of uterine cancers around 95% are endometrial. Uterine cancer mostly occurs in postmenopausal women and is basically abnormal cell growth in the uterus (neoplasm).

Endometrial uterine cancers, in many cases, are curable as well as being highly treatable - treatment methods include medications, surgical options, chemotherapy and radiation, depending on relevant protocols.

Once a problem is diagnosed the appropriate treatment can commence. The symptom most common in uterine cancer is postmenopausal bleeding and the majority of women will identify this as a warning sign that they may have a problem and require medical help. Fortunately only 10% to 20% women with postmenopausal bleeding symptoms in fact have malignant growths - abnormal bleeding must be medically evaluated without delay as this often results in a diagnosis of the disease at its first stage when it is potentially curable and highly treatable.

Some endometrial cancer risk factors are infertility (or no children), unopposed estrogen, late menopause, obesity, diabetes, diet high in animal fat, hypertension and radiation therapy.

The possibilities that a postmenopausal bleeding problem is in fact a malignancy increases as women age. Uterine cancer symptoms which are common are pelvic region pains, painful sexual intercourse and painful urination.

Other symptoms may include a vaginal secretion or drainage that is purulent (contains pus), opaque and thick drainage of dead tissue and cells and typically indicates an infection. Some other symptoms of a more advanced stage of the disease include weight loss, pain and changes in bowel and bladder habits.

Fewer than 5% of endometrial cancer cases are diagnosed before any symptoms are presented - usually discovered during annual physical check ups. Cervical cancer however can be identified early through PAP smears and any woman after menopause that shows atypical cells on a Pap smear should be examined and screened for any malignant signs in the uterus. Any woman who has not had a hysterectomy or uterus removed can identify uterine cancer symptoms. Early detection is critical as stages I or 2 of this cancer can in many cases be cured and is highly treatable.