Is a thick endometrium the same as cancer?

Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Endometrial thickening is not necessarily cancerous. Causes of endometrial thickening generally include irregular hyperplasia or endometrial polyps, both of which can lead to thickening of the endometrium, but this is not necessarily indicative of cancer. Whether it is endometrial cancer is usually determined if patients with endometrial thickening do not show clear improvement after treatment with medication. Typically, a curettage procedure is performed to collect tissue for pathological examination. If the pathology report indicates endometrial cancer or precancerous lesions, then it will be reported. Therefore, endometrial thickening is not necessarily indicative of endometrial cancer, and it can occur with conditions like endometrial polyps or irregular endometrial hyperplasia. Treatment at this stage should be based on the pathological results. Thus, while endometrial thickening should be taken seriously, it is not necessarily cancerous.

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Is endometrial hyperplasia cancer?

Endometrial hyperplasia is not the same as endometrial cancer; it can be treated promptly. Endometrial cancer develops from ongoing endometrial hyperplasia, which can progress into atypical hyperplasia, a precancerous condition of the endometrium. Further development can lead to endometrial cancer. Therefore, it is crucial to treat endometrial hyperplasia actively to prevent its progression to endometrial cancer. Endometrial hyperplasia results from a lack of progesterone influence, causing the endometrium to remain in a proliferative state rather than transitioning to the secretory phase. With the influence of progesterone, the endometrium would not undergo hyperplasia; therefore, treating endometrial hyperplasia with progesterone is advisable.

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What should not be eaten with endometrial cancer?

When suffering from endometrial cancer, it's important to pay attention to your diet. Avoid eating foods that cause flare-ups, such as seafood, lamb, dog meat, oysters, and other sea products. Additionally, refrain from consuming high-fat, high-cholesterol foods like fatty meats, cream, and animal fats. Also, avoid eating foods that contain estrogen, such as longan, durian, red dates, and honey. It is also advisable to avoid irritating foods such as chili peppers, and other stimulants like pepper powder and white liquor, as these can affect the body's immunity and exacerbate the condition.

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Is surgery necessary for endometrial cancer?

For endometrial cancer, surgery is generally recommended as the first choice, because early-stage endometrial cancer can largely be cured through surgical treatment. Besides surgery, other options include medication, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, which are used for mid to late stages or in conjunction with surgery in early stages. When treating endometrial cancer, the treatment method should be chosen based on the specific condition and stage of the patient. In early-stage endometrial cancer, surgery is the preferred treatment. Therefore, aside from surgical treatment, patients should choose medication, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy based on their specific conditions.

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Written by Tang Mei Xiang
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How is endometrial cancer diagnosed?

Endometrial cancer often manifests as vaginal bleeding after menopause, and in women who have not experienced menopause, it often presents as menstrual irregularities. The diagnostic methods for endometrial cancer include the following: 1. Fractional curettage is the most important method for diagnosing endometrial cancer. First, scrape the cervical canal, then sequentially scrape the endometrial tissue from each part of the uterine body, label the specimens separately, and send them for pathological examination together. 2. Cytological examination is a method for screening for endometrial cancer. A specially made uterine cavity suction tube or brush is inserted into the uterine cavity to collect secretions for cytological culture. 3. Hysteroscopic examination allows direct observation of the growth of endometrial lesions and can also obtain live tissue for pathological examination. It involves pelvic ultrasound examination to understand the size of the lesion, surrounding infiltration, etc. 5. Other methods, such as lymphangiography, CT, MRI, and serum CA125 testing.

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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.