In Greek, the word Carcinos (cancer) means crab. The Father of Medicine, Hippocrates, was the first to describe cancerous tumours, saying they resembled crabs. That is how the word “cancer” came into existence but the disease condition has been there for centuries.
About endometrial cancer
Cancer can develop in any portion of the body and can spread to other areas. The most common type of uterine cancer in women is cancer of the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus or womb. The most common sign of endometrial cancer occurs after menopause and involves unusual vaginal bleeding. If it is detected in its early stages, a cure is possible.
Women over 50 years of age are at risk of developing endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer is also brought on by high oestrogen hormone levels. In diseases including diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, oestrogen levels rise. A combination of oestrogen and progestin hormones is administered to the patient during hormone replacement therapy. While oestrogen stimulates the development of the endometrium, progesterone serves to protect the uterine lining from oestrogen. Endometrial cancer risk increases if progestin is not used in hormone replacement therapy. Menstruating before the age of 12 years old, irregular ovulation, menopause after the age of 50, obesity, diabetes, never having been pregnant, and usage of the drug tamoxifen are additional risk factors for endometrial cancer.
Diagnosis
To diagnose endometrial cancer, a small sample of uterine tissue is collected during an endometrial biopsy process. This procedure involves inserting a tiny tube via the vagina into the uterus. This tissue is removed and then sent to a lab for testing to see whether it contains any malignant or precancerous cells. Dilatation and curettage is a procedure performed under general anaesthesia (the patient is unconscious) where the cervix is dilated or widened (the uterus is opened) and uterine tissue is scraped for analysis. It is a complicated procedure for patients who are suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, or various forms of cancer. If necessary, MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds are also performed to diagnose endometrial cancer.
Treatment
Endometrial cancer is commonly treated by surgical removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. The term “hysterectomy” refers to the surgical removal of the uterus alone. The doctor may advise radiation therapy, in which high doses of X-rays are used to destroy cancer cells if the cancer is in advanced stages and has spread to other body parts. Chemotherapy is administered intravenously or orally to destroy cancer cells. Synthetic progestin, a hormone similar to progesterone, is used to slow the development of cancerous cells. Progestin treatment is an option for early-stage endometrial cancer patients who wish to have children but do not want to undergo hysterectomy. An alternative to reduce premenopausal women’s oestrogen hormone levels is gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists.
Survival and success rate
The one-year survival rate for endometrial cancer patients is 92%. 95% of people with cancer survive for five years if endometrial cancer has not spread. Only 23% of cancer patients survive for five years if the disease has spread to other organs.
Cancer Organizations
You can get all the information you need about cancer at the National Cancer Institute, which is a division of the American National Institutes of Health. The American Cancer Society is a different organisation that provides information on different forms of cancer, healthy living advice, research, and support groups.
Beating all odds
All women who are suffering from cancer can take inspiration from Fran Descher, a two-time Golden Globe winner. Descher underwent a hysterectomy after being diagnosed with uterine cancer and she has been doing well ever since. In a book titled “Cancer Schmancer,” she made an effort to inform readers about cancer. She emphasises the significance of early cancer detection in her work. On the seventh anniversary of her hysterectomy, she launched the Cancer Schmancer movement, a non-profit organisation that assists women in identifying malignancies in stage 1 or the very early stages. When cancer is discovered early and successfully treated, the prognosis will be excellent. She has not only overcome all odds to survive cancer but also improved people’s lives by increasing cancer awareness.
