Endometrial cancer (uterine cancer) is the most common gynecologic cancer that occurs in the
United States; and arises from abnormal cells that develop within the inside
lining of the uterus. It occurs most often after menopause, but may also be
diagnosed before menopause.
The uterus is made up of two major structures, the myometrium (myo=muscle +
metrium=womb) and the endometrium, the inside lining of the uterus (endo=inner +
metrium=womb) where a fertilized egg implants to form the fetus.
Risk factors for developing endometrial cancer including the following:
Endometrial hyperplasia: excess numbers of cells within the endometrium.
Age: This cancer is usually found in women older than the age of 50.
Excess estrogen:Hormone therapy is one potential cause, as is
obesity
since estrogen is produced in the fatty tissue of the body.
Ethnicity: Caucasian women are at higher risk of endometrial
cancer.
The uterus is part of a woman's reproductive system. It's a hollow organ in
the pelvis.
The uterus has three parts:
Top: The top (fundus) of your uterus is shaped like a dome. From
the top of your uterus, the fallopian tubes extend to the ovaries.
Middle: The middle part of your uterus is the body (corpus). This
is where a baby grows.
Bottom: The narrow, lower part of your uterus is the cervix. The
cervix is a passageway to the vagina.
The wall of the uterus has two layers of tissue:
Inner layer: The inner layer (lining) of the uterus is the
endometrium. In women of childbearing age, the lining grows and thickens
each month to prepare for pregnancy. If a woman does not become pregnant,
the thick, bloody lining flows out of the body. This flow is a menstrual
period.
Outer layer: The outer layer of muscle tissue is the myometrium.
Cancer Cells
Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues make
up the uterus and the other organs of the body.
Normal cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When
normal cells grow old or get damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.
Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when the body doesn't need
them, and old or damaged cells don't die as they should. The buildup of extra
cells often forms a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.
Tumors in the uterus can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Benign
tumors are not as harmful as malignant tumors:
Benign tumors (such as a fibroid, a polyp, or endometriosis):
are usually not
a threat to life
can be treated or removed and usually don't grow back
don't
invade the tissues around them
don't spread to other parts of the body
Malignant growths:
may be a threat to life
usually can be removed but can
grow back
can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs (such as the vagina)
can spread to other parts of the body
Cancer cells can spread by breaking away
from the uterine tumor. They can travel through lymph vessels to nearby lymph
nodes. Also, cancer cells can spread through the blood vessels to the lung,
liver, bone, or brain. After spreading, cancer cells may attach to other tissues
and grow to form new tumors that may damage those tissues. See the Staging
section for information about uterine cancer that has spread.
Endometriosis is the growth of cells similar to those that form the inside of the uterus, but in a location outside of the uterus. Endometriosis implants are most commonly found on the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, outer surfaces of the uterus or intestines, and on the surface lining of the pelvic cavity. They can also be found in the vagina, cervix, and bladder. Treatment of endometriosis can be with medication or surgery.
Cervical cancer is cancer of the entrance to the womb (uterus). Regular pelvic exams and Pap testing can detect precancerous changes in the cervix. Precancerous changes in the cervix may be treated with cryosurgery, cauterization, or laser surgery. The most common symptom of cancer of the cervix is abnormal bleeding.
Normal vaginal bleeding (menorrhea) occurs through the process of menstruation. Abnormal vaginal bleeding in women who are ovulating regularly most commonly involves excessive, frequent, irregular, or decreased bleeding. Causes of abnormal may arise from a variety of conditions.
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that originate in the uterus and are usually round or semi-round in shape. The most common symptom of a uterine fibroid is abnormal vaginal bleeding. Other symptoms include pressure, pelvic pain, pressure on the bladder, or pain during a bowel movement. Treatment options vary from surgery to medication.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), also known by the name Stein-Leventhal syndrome, is a hormonal problem that causes women to have a variety of symptoms including irregular or no menstrual periods, acne, obesity, and excess hair growth. Treatment of PCOS depends partially on the woman's stage of life and the symptoms of PCOS.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Benign uterine growths are tissue enlargements of the female womb (uterus). Three types of benign uterine growths are uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and uterine polyps. Symptoms include: abdominal pressure, pelvic pain, and pain during intercourse. Diagnosis and treatment of benign uterine growths depends upon the type of growth.
Menstruation (menstrual cycle) is also referred to as a "period." When a woman menstruates, the lining of the uterus is shed. This shedding of the uterine linking is the menstrual blood flow. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days. There can be problems with a woman's period, including heavy bleeding, pain, or skipped periods. Causes of these problems may be amenorrhea (lack fo a period), menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea), or abnormal vaginal or uterine bleeding. There are a variety of situations in which a girl or woman should see a doctor about her menstrual cycle.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Women's health is an important topic area to guide a woman through the stages of her life, as well as knowing the conditions and diseases that may occur. Educating yourself so that the transitions into different phases of life is key to a healthy, happy, and productive life.
Most often, caregivers take care of other adults who are ill or disabled. Less often, caregivers are grandparents raising their grandchildren. The majority of caregivers are middle-aged women. Caregiving can be very stressful, so it's important to recognize when it's putting to much strain on you and to take steps to prevent/relieve stress.
Endometrial cancer, or uterine cancer, affects the endometrium of the uterus. It's the most common invasive cancer of the female reproductive system. Risk factors include smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, taking estrogen-only hormone therapy, early menstruation, late menopause, and never being pregnant.
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure whereby the
uterus (womb) is removed. Hysterectomy is the most common non-obstetrical surgical procedure of women in the United States.
How common is hysterectomy?
Approximately 300 out of every 100,000 women will undergo a hysterectomy.
Why is a hysterectomy performed?
The most common reason
hysterectomy is performed is for uterine fibroids The next most common reasons
are:
abnormal uterine bleeding (vaginal
bleeding),
cervical dysplasia (pre-cancerous conditions of the cervix),
endometriosis, and uterine prolapse (including
pelvic relaxation).
Only 10% of hysterectomy is performed for
cancer. This article will primarily focus on
the use of hysterectomy for non-cancerous, non-emergency reasons, which can involve
even more challenging decisions for women and their do...
Endometrial cancer (uterine cancer) is the most common gynecologic cancer that occurs in the
United States; and arises from abnormal cells that develop within the inside
lining of the uterus. It occurs most often after 
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