Uterine cancer is a very serious condition which should not be neglected. Seeking out medical help and talking to your general practitioner if you believe you have any uterine cancer symptoms would be the smartest step to take. Although the outward exhibition of uterine cancer symptoms can result from some other condition, it is still always best to be diagnosed and know your overall condition.
By far the most common of all the uterine cancer symptoms would be the unusual bleeding of the vagina at the outset of menopausal stage.
Below are some other uterine cancer symptoms you should know of:
. Unusual loss of weight
. Painful sexual intercourse
. Painful sensation upon urination
. Lump in the pelvic region
. Pain in the pelvic region
. Milky and watery vaginal discharge that may sometimes be accompanied with traces of blood
Risk Factors for Uterine Cancer
The fact is that, there isn’t any identified cause of uterine cancer and even physicians oftentimes have difficulty explaining why some people will be more susceptible to uterine cancer and others are not. But, research studies have concluded that there are certain risk factors which could increase the oncoming of uterine cancer. The following are the risk factors that predispose a person to developing uterine cancer:
. Being over 50 years old
. Being Caucasian
. A history of endometrial hyperplasia
. Having high blood pressure levels
. A history of colorectal cancer in the family
. Being diabetic
. Use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
. Using Tamoxifen
. Exposure to estrogen for an extended period
. Never being pregnant
. Women who haven’t experience breast feeding
. A menstrual cycle that starts before12 years old
. Starting menopause after turning 55 years old
What Happens in Uterine Cancer
Uterine cancer develops while the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus thickens and begins to shed monthly. This is actually the menstrual cycle that women experiences every month. On the other hand, in a woman that has uterine cancer, the builds up of endometrium stays permanently in the uterus and does not shed off. Endometrial hyperplasia then happens where in there are increased amount of cells in the uterine lining. This is the “pre-cancer” stage wherein cells develop rapidly and go out of control. These fast producing cells are no other than the cancer cells.
Since these cancerous cells multiply in a fast-paced manner, the outcome is usually the formation of a tissue mass. This would explain the unusual bleeding as most of the tissue mass invades the uterus through the vagina and cervix. Nearly 85% of postmenopausal females who are identified as having endometrial cancer have abnormal bleeding.
If the endometrial cancer is neglected and left without treatment, the cancerous cells can metastasize to the deep layers of connective tissues surrounding the uterus. The cancer cells can spread into the pelvic lymph nodes along with other organs in the pelvic region seeing that this cancer advances. Once the uterine cancer has advanced to a more serious stage, it can metastasize passing from the lymph nodes to other parts of the body including the bones, vagina, liver, brain and lungs.
The stage of the cancer has the most important impact on the success of uterine cancer treatment. The stage of the cancer is one thing that only your physicians can tell you after evaluating your general condition appropriately. Therefore early diagnosis of uterine cancer symptoms may directly have an effect on your uterine cancer prognosis and survival.
Ryan Bradshaw has over thirty-five years of experience in the healthcare field. He has helped establish hospitals in more than ten states and presently runs an exceptionally educational website about uterine cancer symptoms .