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Endometrial Cancer
Causes of Endometrial Cancer
Patients with endometrial cancer generally have factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity that induce the condition. They are more prone to developing endometrial cancer. Furthermore, endometrial cancer is divided into hormone-dependent and non-hormone-dependent types. Hormone-dependent endometrial cancer occurs when there is an excess of estrogen produced in the body without sufficient counteraction by progesterone, leading to excessive growth and proliferation of the endometrial lining. When this growth becomes uncontrolled, it can lead to cancer. Non-hormone-dependent endometrial cancer is not caused by hormonal factors and its development is more complex. Additionally, the pathology type of non-hormone-dependent endometrial cancer is also quite unique.
Are uterine polyps and endometrial cancer the same?
Endometrial polyps and endometrial cancer are different. First, both can be induced by hormonal imbalances in the body, but endometrial polyps may also involve inflammatory elements, leading to the formation of polyps. Additionally, the age of onset differs; endometrial polyps are more common in women of reproductive age, whereas endometrial cancer typically occurs after the age of 45. Furthermore, their clinical manifestations vary. Women with endometrial polyps mainly experience changes in menstrual cycles and infertility, and generally, endometrial polyps grow slowly. In contrast, women with endometrial cancer mainly experience abdominal pain, heavy vaginal discharge, or bleeding. In advanced stages, women may exhibit signs of cachexia. These two conditions can be differentiated through diagnostic curettage.
Endometrial cancer B-ultrasound manifestations
Normally, the endometrium has a certain thickness. Patients with endometrial cancer usually show thickening of the endometrium, accompanied by irregular bleeding and abdominal pain. In severe cases, patients may experience excessive discharge from the half-vagina, accompanied by a fishy and foul odor. Typically, in cases of endometrial cancer, an ultrasound can reveal thickening of the endometrium and abnormal endometrial echoes, and some patients may show significant blood flow signals around the area according to reports. These signs generally suggest a high likelihood of endometrial cancer. The diagnosis of endometrial cancer typically involves undergoing a diagnostic curettage at the hospital. The tissue scrapped during this procedure is sent for pathology. Afterward, based on the pathology results, the type and nature of the endometrial cancer are determined. Therefore, the presence of endometrial cancer can generally be inferred from an ultrasound as well.
Is endometrial tofu dregs-like a sign of endometrial cancer?
Endometrial cancer usually manifests in five main aspects. First, irregular vaginal bleeding, which is typically light but can be moderate in some patients. If the patient is postmenopausal, the bleeding often appears as either continuous or intermittent. Second, menstrual disorders, which are a common symptom of endometrial cancer as it is a malignant tumor occurring in the endometrium and significantly affects menstruation. Third, vaginal discharge, where some patients may experience a discharge of thin, white secretions, or a very small amount of bloody discharge in the early stages of the disease. Fourth, pain; once a patient develops endometrial cancer, the tumor may cause bleeding and possibly lead to infection. Fifth, abdominal masses, which can occur if there is a combination of large uterine fibroids or in advanced stages, potentially leading to the formation of large masses in the pelvic cavity due to the spread of a uterine cavity abscess.
What are the symptoms of endometrial cancer?
Patients with endometrial cancer mainly experience symptoms in three areas: First, obvious symptoms caused by local tumors in the uterus, such as irregular vaginal bleeding, changes in the menstrual cycle, a sense of fullness and dull pain in the lower abdomen and pelvic area, along with significant discomfort and pain. Second, clinical symptoms caused by metastatic lesions. Endometrial cancer can spread through three pathways, which after dissemination can cause a variety of symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, headache, vomiting, movement disorders, chest tightness, coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Some patients may also experience bone pain. Third, systemic symptoms, which are typically seen in advanced stages of endometrial cancer and commonly include cachexia, fever, and others.
Endometrial cancer requires chemotherapy.
If endometrial cancer has high-risk factors, chemotherapy is needed after surgery if these high-risk factors are found in the pathological staging. If it's early-stage endometrial cancer without these high-risk factors, chemotherapy might not be necessary after surgery because chemotherapy also serves to prevent recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, it is advised that patients with high-risk factors in endometrial cancer undergo chemotherapy. Although chemotherapy may have significant side effects, it can improve the survival time and quality of life for cancer patients. The decision to proceed with chemotherapy should be based on the postoperative pathological staging, biopsy results, and the presence or absence of factors like lymph node metastasis.
How is endometrial cancer detected?
When women experience irregular vaginal bleeding, or vaginal bleeding reoccurs after menopause, and uterine endometrial cancer is suspected, the first step is to conduct a routine gynecological examination to identify whether the bleeding originates from the uterine cavity or the cervix. Additionally, an ultrasound examination can be conducted to observe the condition inside the uterine cavity, the thickness of the endometrium, whether the thickness is uniform, and whether there are any abnormal growths, to understand whether the woman might have uterine endometrial cancer. However, these methods usually cannot provide a diagnosis and only serve to assess or suggest the possibility of endometrial cancer. For a definitive diagnosis, a hysteroscopy or diagnostic curettage can be performed, and the results of the pathological examination can confirm the diagnosis.
Late-stage symptoms of endometrial cancer
Endometrial cancer is a common malignant tumor in the female reproductive system. In advanced stages, patients often experience irregular vaginal bleeding. In addition, there may be bloody discharge from the vagina. If an infection is present or there are signs of necrosis due to the cancer, there may also be purulent discharge or other foul odors. Additionally, there are more apparent symptoms such as pain, abdominal masses, and in late stages, the cancer may invade blood vessels, causing swelling in the lower limbs, or spread to nearby organs, such as the ureters, leading to renal damage. Over time, this can also lead to cachexia, fever, and other signs of systemic failure.
How is endometrial cancer staged?
Endometrial cancer is a common gynecological malignancy in women. Based on surgical and pathological results, endometrial cancer can be divided into four stages. Stage I is the mildest form of endometrial cancer, where the cancer is confined only within the endometrium and does not extend beyond the uterine serosa. Generally, stage 1a is when the cancer is less than half the width of the muscle, while stage 1b is when the cancer infiltrates more than half the width of the muscle. Stage II means the cancer has locally spread but only involves the cervix, without causing cervical stromal infiltration. Stage III involves local spread to the serosa and lymph nodes. Stage IV involves distant metastasis, such as to the liver and bones.
Early symptoms of endometrial cancer
When endometrial cancer occurs in women, it first manifests as abnormal proliferation of the endometrium, increased endometrial surface area, and increased secretions, which can increase the pressure inside the uterine cavity, leading to lower abdominal pain in women. Most women can tolerate this pain, but it tends to worsen during vigorous activities or sexual intercourse. Vaginal discharge may become watery and increase. Additionally, some women may experience increased menstrual flow or irregular vaginal bleeding. Over time, this can lead to blood loss anemia in women, manifesting as dizziness, fatigue, and changes in appetite.