Know Cancer Of The Uterus

The uterus is an important part of the female reproductive system. One of the diseases that can attack this organ is uterine cancer. This type of cancer is also often called endometrial cancer because it generally appears with the attacking cells that form the lining of the uterus or endometrium medical term.

This cancer can also attack the muscles around the uterus so that it forms a Sarcoma atony. But the type of the disease is extremely rare.

Uterine cancer symptoms commonly experienced vaginal bleeding is a sufferer. Although not all abnormal bleeding caused by cancer of the uterus, but you still need to be vigilant and should preferably be checked myself to the doctor. Especially if you:

Menopause already, but still experiencing bleeding.
Not yet menopausal, but bleed outside of the menstrual cycle

Factors Trigger Cancer Of The Uterus

The cause of uterine cancer is not yet known for sure. But the main factor that can increase the risk of cancer of the uterus is the body's hormonal imbalance, especially estrogen. High estrogen hormone levels can increase the risk of a person to be exposed to uterine cancer.

Some other factors that can lead to unbalanced hormones are:

A late menopause.
Hormone replacement therapy.
The use of long term tamoksifen.

Because the cause is unknown, the preventive measures that are certain to uterine cancer also does not exist. However, measures to reduce the risk persists. For example:

Maintain a healthy weight.
Multiply the consumption of soy.
Long-term use of certain type of contraception, such as birth control pills.

Treatment For Cancer Of The Uterus

Options in the treatment of uterine cancer is very dependent on the stage of development of the disease and the health status of the patient. But it is a step that is generally recommended is the surgical removal of the uterus, or the medical term hysterectomy.

Handling steps to wipe out the cancer cells as well as prevent its spread may also be your will to live. These steps include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy.

Uterine Cancer Symptoms

The most common symptoms occur in the uterine cancer is vaginal bleeding. Approximately 9 out of 10 patients with cancer of the uterus undergoes this indication.

Although not all abnormal bleeding caused by cancer of the uterus, but you still need to berwaspada and should be checked myself to the doctor if this happens.

The symptoms that you can beware early on, among others, the presence of vaginal bleeding that occurs outside of the menstrual cycle or even after menopause. The pain is also noteworthy has occurred, such as pain in the pelvis or when your sexual intercourse. Physically, you can recognize the symptoms that appear with a lump in the abdomen or lower without clear reason continue to lose weight.

The women who experience the above symptoms should be immediately checked myself into the doctor to ascertain whether indeed caused by uterine cancer or not. But whatever the cause, diagnosis and treatment needs to be done as soon as possible.

Cause Of Cancer Of The Uterus

When it is revealed to suffer uterine cancer, we definitely wonder what triggers the formation of cancer in our bodies. The cause of uterine cancer is indeed not known for certain, but there are several factors that can increase your risk. Of which:

Exposure To Estrogen

The higher the exposure level of the female body's response to estrogen, the higher the risk also suffering from uterine cancer. After menopause, progesterone stops hormone production while production of hormones of estrogen remain though dropped dramatically. Estrogen hormone levels can rise if not counterbalanced by the hormone progesterone. Therefore, the risk of uterine cancer for women who have been through menopause tends to be higher.

Women who experience menopause at age older than average, have a higher risk. In addition, women who started menstruating at a younger age also have a higher risk to have uterine cancer. This is because in both situations, women exposed to estrogen for a longer period than those who start menstruating late or who are more experienced at the age of menopause is normal.

Have Never Been Pregnant

At the time of pregnancy, a woman's progesterone levels higher than estrogen. Therefore, women who have never been pregnant has risk of uterine cancer is higher.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Types of estrogen hormone replacement therapy should only be given on women undergoing hysterectomy whereas if the uterus is still there, combination hormone replacement therapy (estrogen and progesterone) should be used to lower the risk of uterine cancer.

Influence Of Overweight Or Obesity

The levels of estrogen in a woman's body that are experiencing overweight or obesity is higher so that it can increase the risk of uterine cancer is more than two times. This is because fatty tissue can produce the hormone estrogen.

The Influence Of Age

Most of the uterine cancer attacking women seniors who are already experiencing menopause.

Polisistik Ovarian Syndrome

Polisistik Ovarian Syndrome sufferers are at high risk of developing cancer of the uterus due to being exposed to a high estrogen levels.

The risk of type 2 Diabetes

Women who suffer from type 2 diabetes have a higher risk for developing cancer of the uterus.

Use Of Tamoksifen

All drugs certainly has risks and side effects, including tamoksifen which can increase the risk of uterine cancer for its users.

Diagnosis Of Cancer Of The Uterus

Uterine cancer is not necessarily a cause of all abnormal vaginal bleeding on the organ, but you are encouraged to stay checked myself to the doctor to be diagnosed with certainty. There are two steps that traveled to ensure the presence of cancer of the uterus, namely:

Transvaginal ULTRASOUND test. This type of ULTRASOUND is used to examine changes in the thickness of the lining of the uterus that may be caused by the presence of cancer cells.
The Biopsy Test. These measures are applied by taking and examining samples of cells from the lining of the uterus for viewing under a microscope. There are three ways to perform a biopsy, i.e. with fine needle aspiration, hitereskopi, and a curette.

If undiagnosed positive contracted uterine cancer, the doctor will examine the stages of development (stadium) the cancer. The usual tests recommended is chest x-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, and blood tests.

Stadium-stadium on uterine cancer include:

Stage 1 – only found in cancer of the uterus.
Stage 2 – the cancer had already spread to the cervix or cervical.
Stage 3 – the cancer had already spread to the outside of the uterus and attacking networks around the pelvic lymphatic or stain.
Stage 4 – the cancer has already spread to other organs or abdominal tissue, such as bladder, colon, liver, or lungs.

Uterine Cancer Treatment

Determination method of treatment for cancer of the uterus that will have you living depends on the stage of cancer, health conditions, as well as your desire to have children. Don't be shy to ask as much detail as possible to the doctor if you feel free.

The more Your uterine cancer is detected early, it is likely you are to survive and recover will be higher. If detected contracted uterine cancer at stage 1 or 2, the sufferer has the possibility of about 75 percent to survive for five years or more. Most of the sufferers are undiagnosed uterine cancer at stage 1 is finally recovered.

While patients who suffered from uterine cancer is detected at stage 3 has the possibility of about 45 percent to survive for at least five years. As for the patients of group stage 4, only one of four people who survive in the next 5 years.

Cancer in advanced stages can't be cured. But the treatment step can be made to shrink the size of the cancer and inhibiting growth so as to reduce the perceived symptoms sufferers.

Methods of treatment for cancer of the uterus

Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy or surgical removal of her uterus is uterine cancer handling steps most often recommended. This operation will delete your chances to conceive.Therefore, patients with cancer of the uterus that still want to have children may feel reluctant to get through it.

Types of hysterectomy that will result also depends on the stage of cancer of the uterus suffered.

The operations that will be carried to the uterine cancer stage 1 includes adoption of the uterus, both ovaries and fallopian tubes. Doctors also usually will at once take a sample of smudging the surrounding nodes to examine the possibility of the spread of cancer.

In addition to surgical incision through the great General, a hysterectomy can also be done through the operation just applying some small incisions or better known as laparoscopic hysterectomy.

For cancer of the uterus stage 2 or 3, patients are encouraged to undergo a radical hysterectomy or total. In addition to the uterus, both ovaries and fallopian tubes, this operation include the appointment of cervical and vaginal the upper part.

For cancer of the uterus stadium 4, surgical removal of cancer as fully as may be advisable. This procedure is not to heal, but to reduce the symptoms suffered by patients.

After surgery, patients with cancer of the uterus will usually require radiotherapy or chemotherapy to reduce the risk of the cancer reappeared.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy can prevent the return of cancer in women who have undergone hysterectomy. In addition, to further cases, radiotherapy is used to inhibit the spread of cancer, for example if the patient's condition does not allow it to undergo surgical removal of the uterus.

The side effects of this treatment method is:

The skin on the treated parts becomes red and painful.
Bleeding in the rectum.
General side effects will disappear when the treatment is radiotherapy was stopped.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is usually used for uterine cancer sufferer at stage 3 or 4 and is generally given through an IV drip gradually. In addition to preventing cancer reappeared on a case that could be cured, treatment can also be used for the case of hysterectomy post-with a further stage in inhibiting the spread of cancer and reduce symptoms.

Some side effects of this method are the hair loss, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.

Hormone therapy

This therapy is commonly used to treat uterine cancer or advanced stages of the cancer reappeared. This type of treatment works to shrink the tumor as well as controlling the symptoms. Hormone therapy is performed by administering the hormone progesterone artificially in tablet form to replace the body's natural hormone progesterone.

Side effects of this treatment is to increase weight loss, muscle cramps, and nausea.

Prevention Of Cancer Of The Uterus

Because the cause is unknown for certain, uterine cancer also can not be prevented completely. But, you can do the following steps to reduce the risk of developing cancer of the uterus:

Maintain a Healthy Weight Through diet and Exercise

This is one of the most effective ways to prevent the disease, including cancer of the uterus. By maintaining a healthy body weight, you will avoid the obesity that is included in the risk factors of this disease. This you can do with:

Work out at least 2-3 hours a week.
Eating foods low in fat and high in fiber.

In addition to a healthy diet, taking materials from the soy such, tofu and soy milk can also lower the risk of developing uterine cancer. This is because soy contains isoflavones which can help protect the lining of the uterus.

Use Of Contraceptives

Types of contraceptives that are shown to lower the risk of uterine cancer is a combination pill used in the long term. Whereas other types which may help to reduce the risk are:

KB (implant).
Intrauterine device (IUD) containing the hormone progestogen.