When the cells of the endometrium, which is the inner layer of the uterus, start to grow uncontrollably, endometrial cancer occurs, which is the most common cancer in developed countries.
What are the causes of this type of cancer?
The two most important risk factors that can favor the appearance of endometrial cancer are age and obesity.
On the other hand, when mutations occur in endometrial cells, healthy cells become abnormal, forming a tumor and invading nearby tissues. These cells can separate from the initial tumor and metastasize.
In 80% of cases, endometrial cancer is diagnosed in the early stages of the disease.
Types of endometrial cancer
There are two types of endometrial cancer depending on how the cells look under the microscope.
On the one hand, there is type I, known as endometrioid cancer. This cancer usually occurs in obese patients after menopause. Most endometrial cancers are usually of this type.
On the other hand, there is type II, known as serous and clear cell cancer. These are cancers that tend to originate and spread more rapidly than the other endometrial cancers and, in fact, by the time the diagnosis is made, they have already spread beyond the uterine area.
What symptoms may indicate endometrial cancer?
Signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer include the following:
- Vaginal bleeding after menopause.
- Bleeding between menstrual periods
- Pelvic pain
Treatment
Treatment for endometrial cancer must take into account the type of cancer, age at diagnosis, stage of the disease and desire to preserve fertility.
Generally, the treatment will be surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy or a combination of these.
How to prevent it
To prevent it, it is important to follow a series of recommendations:
- A healthy weight: excess weight increases the risk of endometrial cancer.
- Oral contraceptives: oral contraceptives can reduce the risk of endometrial cancer.
- Hormone therapy after menopause: taking a combination of estrogen and progesterone can reduce the incidence of endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women by 35%.