Q: Whom should we consult if a person is suffering from endometrial cancer?
A: You can consult a gynecologist or a surgical oncologist.
Q: What are the risk factors for endometrial cancer?
A: The most important risk of endometrial cancer is concerned with the alterations in the levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are the key hormones produced in females.. Other risk factors are early menarche, late menopause, No children, Failure to ovulate and Obesity.
Q: What causes uterine cancer?
A: The cause of uterine cancer is not known. However, one of the major risks behind the development of endometrial cancer is the exposure of the uterus to excess of estrogen over an extended period of time.
Q: Why does obesity increase the risk for uterine cancer?
A: Obesity is unfortunately linked to the risk of endometrial cancer as it assists the body in producing more estrogen. With increased exposure of the uterus to estrogen, the risk of developing endometrial cancer is higher.
Q: What are the symptoms of endometrial cancer?
A: The most common symptom of uterine cancer is abnormal bleeding that occurs around or after menopause. Other symptoms include, Abnormal vaginal discharge, Pelvic pain, Painful or difficult urination, Pain during intercourse, Unusual weight loss and Pelvic mass.
Q: Can anything be done to prevent endometrial cancer?
A: Since the exact cause of endometrial cancer is still unclear, prevention may still be a distant dream, however certain precautionary steps can be taken to reduce the risk. These include maintenance of ideal weight, annual pelvic exams, endometrial biopsy at menopause for women at high risk, use of combination oral contraceptives, controlling obesity and diabetes, taking a combination of estrogen and progesterone and obtaining proper treatment for any precancerous disorders of the endometrium, such as endometrial hyperplasia.
Q: How is endometrial cancer treated?
A: The treatment is chosen according to the category of cancer and the stage of the disease- your age, your overall state of health, whether you plan to have children, and other personal considerations. There are four basic types of treatment for women with endometrial cancer - surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy.
