Is surgery necessary for endometrial cancer?

Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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When a woman suffers from endometrial cancer, the primary treatment method is surgery, but there are some special circumstances. For example, if the lesion in the woman is relatively minor, it is atypical hyperplasia, which is a precancerous condition, or it is in the late stage of the disease, or in cases of recurrent endometrial cancer. At this time, treatment can be administered using progestogen drugs, applying high-dose long-term oral intake of effective progestogens, which can suppress the cancerous transformation of the endometrial lining and inhibit the further proliferation of cancer cells. Generally, it involves continuous oral administration for 12 weeks, which is three months, followed by a diagnostic curettage to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the drug. In addition, radiation therapy can also be considered.

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Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How is endometrial cancer diagnosed?

In the clinical setting, when endometrial cancer is suspected, further pathological examination is required. Generally, endometrial tissue can be obtained through fractional curettage or hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy. The acquired endometrium is then subject to a pathological examination, observing the morphology of the endometrial cells under a microscope. If cancer cells are detected, a diagnosis of endometrial cancer can be made. Therefore, the confirmation of endometrial cancer in clinical practice must be based on pathological examination.

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Written by Li Lin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Are uterine cancer and endometrial cancer the same?

Uterine cancer is divided into cervical cancer and endometrial cancer. Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in the epithelium and glandular tissue of the cervix, while endometrial cancer is a group of epithelial malignant tumors that occur in the endometrium. The two types of cancer differ due to their different sites of origin. Accordingly, the examination and treatment methods adopted are also not completely the same based on the different sites of origin. However, both cervical and endometrial cancers are primarily treated with surgery, followed by corresponding radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What to do about endometrial cancer pain?

Endometrial cancer, when cancerous tissues invade local nerves, can cause patients to experience pain. This type of pain is recommended to be alleviated by oral painkillers. Pain caused by cancer is an important factor affecting the quality of life of patients in the middle and late stages of the disease; therefore, in clinical practice, analgesic medications can be administered to relieve symptoms in patients with cancer pain. (Please take medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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.