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Uterine Cancer Risk Factors

uterine-cancer-risk-factors
The following uterine cancer risk factors are distinguished:

Obesity or overweight 
Overweight women have a greater chance of developing uterine cancer. In women with (overweight) obesity, increased production of estrogen occurs due to the amount of redundant adipose cells, also known as fat cells, which take estrogen production.

Late menopause, no children or early first menstruation
Women with late menopause (over 55 years), who never had children or had their first menstruation before age 12, also run more risk. Women are exposed to increased amounts of estrogen every time they menstruate. The more cycles a woman experiences in her life, the greater the risk of endometrial cancer. Women who are already beginning to menstruate and/or have had no children and thus have had more menstruation and/or whose transition is relatively late are therefore riskier.

Hormone therapy
An increased risk of postmenopausal women who have had hormone therapy for many years without progesterone. The risk of cervical cancer is reduced by the addition of progesterone, while the risk of breast cancer is justified in that case.




Estrogen producing tumor
Women who have a rare estrogen-producing tumor to the ovaries also run more risk.

Familiarity
Women with a mother, sister, or daughter with uterine cancer are at increased risk of developing this disease.

Lynch syndrome
Also women in families in which a hereditary form of colon cancer, known as Lynch syndrome (formerly Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Carcinoma, HNPCC), has an increased risk of uterine cancer (as well as ovarian cancer )

Changes in female hormones in the body
Your ovaries make two major female hormones: estrogen and progesterone. Fluctuations in the balance of these hormones lead to changes in the endometrium. A disease or condition that increases the amount of estrogen but not the level of progesterone may increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Examples are irregular ovulation patterns, such as those that can occur in women with polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS ), obesity and diabetes. Taking postmenopausal hormones containing estrogen, but not progesterone increases the risk of endometrial cancer. A rare form of ovarian tumor (ovarian soft tissue) that releases estrogen increases the risk of endometrial cancer.

Age
As you grow older you run more risk of uterine cancer. Endometrial cancer is most common in women who have undergone menopause.

Many women who have uterine cancer do not have any of these risk factors. And many women with a risk factor never develop this disease.

Diagnosis and research

In case of prescription of uterine cancer, the GP will physically examine the patient. The GP may refer the patient to a gynecologist, a doctor specializing in women's conditions. This doctor will also physically examine the patient and conduct an internal examination. In addition, blood tests will take place. In addition to internal research and blood tests, vaginal ultrasound, hysteroscopy, and curettage can take place. In a hysteroscopy, the physician enters a tubular instrument through the vagina to view the uterine wall. Then a curette can follow, leaving a piece of tissue from the uterus removed for research. If there is a diagnosis of uterine cancer, it is often necessary to investigate possible sowing, for example by taking a lung photo.

Treatment of uterine cancer

Treatment is strongly dependent on the type and stage of uterine cancer and whether there are indications for sowing. An operation is the most common type of treatment for all types of uterine cancer. If cancer has been restricted to the muscle layer or the uterine mucosa, uterine removal (hysterectomy) is the first designated treatment. The ovaries and ovaries are also removed. When the tumor has grown to the cervix, the uterus and ovaries are removed and as many as possible lymph nodes and support tissues. In an advanced stage, next to an operation, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or hormonal therapy will often follow.

Uterine cancer prognosis

In about 85% of cases, uterine cancer is discovered at an early stage. That is beneficial for the forecast and life expectancy. At an early stage, the tumor can be well treated. If the tumor is restricted to the uterus, the survival rate is roughly 80-90%. When diverting to other organs, the survival rate decreases to 5-15%.
*Image source : Wikipedia

References :
  1. National Cancer Institute
  2. Mayo Clinic
  3. American Cancer Society

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