Uterine Cancer
Uterine cancer or cancer of the uterus is one of the most common cancers which develop in the reproductive system of a woman. The uterus is hollow and situated in the pelvis between the bladder and rectum. It is also known as the womb, where a baby grows during the childbearing days of a woman. Uterine cancer starts when normal cells in the uterus change and start growing uncontrollably to form a tumor.
Types of uterine cancers
Uterine cancers mainly start in the endometrium and are also referred as endometrial carcinomas. But there are cancers that can start in the layers of muscle inside the uterus. Such cancers are generally referred as sarcomas.
Carcinomas
Cancers that start developing in the cells lining the organs inside the body are known as carcinomas. And the type of carcinoma that starts in the cells which line the inner wall of glands is called adenocarcinoma. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma is known to be the most common typ of cancer of the uterus. Based on the abnormality of the glands formed by cancer cells, they are graded by the doctors on a scale of low to high.
Types of uterine cancers
Uterine cancers mainly start in the endometrium and are also referred as endometrial carcinomas. But there are cancers that can start in the layers of muscle inside the uterus. Such cancers are generally referred as sarcomas.
Carcinomas
Cancers that start developing in the cells lining the organs inside the body are known as carcinomas. And the type of carcinoma that starts in the cells which line the inner wall of glands is called adenocarcinoma. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma is known to be the most common typ of cancer of the uterus. Based on the abnormality of the glands formed by cancer cells, they are graded by the doctors on a scale of low to high.
- Grade 1 (low grade) : These glands appear almost identical to other normal glands in the body.
- Grade 2 (intermediate grade) : These glands have an outlook and have the appearance that lies somewhere between low grade and high grade category glands.
- Grade 3 (high grade) : These glands appear very different from normal glands.
Uterine carcinosarcoma
Uterine carcinosarcoma (CS) looks like both endometrial carcinoma as well as sarcoma when looked at under the microscope. It develops in the endometrium and is treated very much like grade-3 adenocarcinoma.
Risk factors for uterine cancer
Several factors may be responsible for the development of endometrial carcinomas in a woman. Hormonal balance inside the body also plays an important role in development of such cancers. Factors that hike the risk of uterine cancer in woman include :
- Intake of estrogen without progesterone.
- Obesity.
- Poly-cystic ovarian syndrome.
- Aging.
- Diabetes.
- History of breast or ovarian cancer.
- Family history of endometrial cancer.
- Endometrial hyperplasia.
- Taking birth control pills.
- Using an intrauterine device.
- Tamoxifen therapy.
Diagnosis of uterine cancer
Endometrial biopsy
In this type of biopsy, a very thin flexible tube is moved through the uterine cervix into the uterus. And then, appropriate pressure is used to remove a small amount of endometrium. Although the process takes less than a minute to complete, it can also cause some discomfort like menstrual cramps.
- Hysteroscopy : Using this type of a biopsy procedure, a doctor can look inside the uterus of the patient. The doctor inserts a tiny scope into the uterus through the cervix. Then the uterus is filled with saline water which allows the doctor to see and take a sample of cancer tissue out of it.
- D&C - Dilation and curettage : In this method, a special instrument is used to scrape the inside of the uterus to take out the endometrium.
Image testing
Imaging tests generally use X-rays, sound waves or magnetic fields concepts to generate images of the inside of our body. Imaging tests include cystoscopy and proctoscopy, PET (positron emission tomography) scan, CT (computed tomography) scan, bone scan and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan.