Womb Cancer (Endometrial Cancer/Uterine Cancer)

• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• More years of menstruation (early menstruation or late menopause)
• Never having been pregnant
• Older age
• Undergoing hormone therapy for breast cancer

*People who think they may be at risk should discuss this with their doctor. 

• A woman who is still having menstrual periods and experiences vaginal bleeding more than once a month or continuous bleeding or spotting throughout the month
• A woman who has not had any menstrual bleeding for 12 months or more and then experiences spotting or bleeding
• Difficult or painful urination
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain in the pelvic area
• An abnormal, watery or blood-tinged discharge from the vagina

*People who think they may be at risk should discuss this with their doctor. 

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Regular exercise
• Consulting your doctor about the risks of hormone therapy after menopause
• Consulting your doctor on the option of birth control pills
  

Endometrial cancer (uterine cancer) can only be diagnosed after a tissue sample has been removed from the uterine lining and examined in the lab. This uterine tissue sample is most commonly obtained via an office procedure known as an endometrial sampling or a minor procedure performed in the operating theatre known as dilation and curettage or D&C.

Endometrial sampling is carried out almost the same way as a Pap smear, in the office and without the need for anesthesia. The entire procedure typically takes around 5-10 minutes. A fine straw-like device is passed into the uterine cavity and a small sample of the uterine lining is sucked out and sent to the lab for analysis and testing. Women who undergo this simple office procedure can expect some menstrual-like cramping during the procedure and in the few hours following the procedure. There may also be some light spotting for a day or two after the procedure. The main advantage of this procedure is that there is no need to undergo general anesthesia which makes the procedure most likely to be recommended by your doctor.

Dilation and curettage or D&C is a day surgical procedure. Women who undergo this procedure will need to be admitted to the hospital and can expect to stay a few hours without the need for an overnight stay. This procedure typically takes around 15-30 minutes and is performed under general anesthesia where the patient is completely asleep during the procedure. Women will typically experience some mild cramping and light bleeding after the dilation and curettage procedure for up to three days. The dilation portion of the procedure refers to the process where the cervix or neck of the womb is gently widened to allow the curette to pass into the uterine cavity. The curettage portion of the procedure is where the curette is used to gently scrape or curette the uterine lining for samples that can be tested. The process of dilation and curettage can be uncomfortable which is why it is typically performed under general anesthesia with the patient completely asleep.

Depending on the stage of endometrial cancer (uterine cancer), there are various treatment options available.

Stage I

Cancer is confined to the uterus only.

Stage II

Cancer is present in both the uterus and the cervix.

Stage III

Cancer has spread beyond the uterus, but hasn't reached the rectum and bladder. The pelvic area lymph nodes may be involved.

Stage IV

Cancer has spread past the pelvic region and can affect the bladder, rectum and more distant parts of the body.

Most women with endometrial cancer (uterine cancer) are productive members of society. Women living with endometrial cancer (uterine cancer) are mothers, grandmothers, bus drivers, entrepreneurs, policewomen and CEOs, they could be your colleague or the confident woman in a business suit standing next to you on the morning commute. Women living with endometrial cancer (uterine cancer) are unaffected by their disease. This is because even very early changes in the endometrium can result in unusual vaginal bleeding patterns as described above. This usually prompts women who have vaginal bleeding that is unexpected to see their gynaecologist or primary care doctor who helps make the diagnosis of endometrial cancer (uterine cancer).

Endometrial cancer (uterine cancer) is treated with surgery. In most women, surgery to remove the uterus, ovaries and Fallopian tubes is sufficient to treat endometrial cancer (uterine cancer) completely. Depending the size of the tumour and other characteristics of the endometrial cancer (uterine cancer), additional tissues surrounding the uterus such as lymph nodes and the omentum may need to be removed during surgery as well. Only women who are then found to have cancer outside of the uterus or who are at risk for cancer cells remaining in the body are given the recommendation to have further treatment in the form of radiation therapy, most commonly, or a combination or chemotherapy and radiation, rarely. About 90% of women with endometrial cancer (uterine cancer) will require no treatment beyond surgery.