Uterine Cancer Treatment

Ranked as the 6th most common cancer affecting women, Uterine Cancer affects more than 400,000 lives every year. It is usually diagnosed in women who have crossed 50 years of age and the risks are significantly lower in those below 45 years of age. Uterine cancer is very rare in children and occurs mainly in women who have reached Menopause.

What is Uterine Cancer?
Uterine Cancer is the term used for cancer that originates from the cells lining the uterus, a female reproductive organ where the foetus attaches itself and grows post-fertilization. These are broadly classified into two types - Endometrial Cancer and Uterine Sarcoma. The former is so common that the terms Uterine Cancer and Endometrial Cancer are often used interchangeably. It develops from the Endometrial Cells lining the Uterus. Uterine Sarcoma is rare, yet highly aggressive. It develops within the Myometrium.

What are the symptoms of Uterine Cancer?
Common symptoms that may point towards the possibility of one having Uterine Cancer include:

• Abnormal or unexplained bleeding from the Vagina
• Vaginal bleeding post-Menopause
• Pain or cramps in the lower abdomen
• Abnormal Vaginal discharge 
• Heavy bleeding during Menstruation 
• Unexplained weight loss, Fatigue, and Weakness

When should you see a Specialist?
It is advisable to see a specialist as soon as you detect any of the above-mentioned symptoms. All these just points towards the possibility of you having uterine cancer but are not definitive. In order to confirm whether a patient has uterine cancer or not, doctors perform some physical examinations and tests. The sooner you consult a specialist, your prognosis would be quicker and you would have a better chance to overcome it. 

What causes Uterine Cancer? 
Uterine Cancer is caused by abnormal mutations in the DNA of the cells found within the uterus. As the DNA regulates cell reproduction, such mutations can disrupt the same, causing the cells to grow uncontrollably. It is not exactly known why this happens but there are several factors that may be responsible. These include:

• Ageing, with risks being higher in women above 50 years of age
• Obesity 
• Undergoing Hormone Therapy after Menopause
• Having complex atypical hyperplasia 
• Early onset of periods, before 12 years of age 
• Delay in menopause, after 50 years of age
• PCOS
• Having certain inherited genetic syndromes. 

Modalities used for the diagnosis of Uterine Cancer 

• Pelvic examination 
• Dilation and Curettage (D&C)
• Transvaginal Ultrasound 
• Computerized Tomography or CT scan 
• Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI 
• Tissue biopsy 

Treatment options available for Uterine Cancer

• Surgery (procedures like Hysterectomy and Lymph node resection)
• Radiation Therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Hormone Therapy 
• Targeted Drug Therapy 
• Immunotherapy