Learning More About Endometrial Cancer
- Endometrial cancer survivor Amy Smetherst, 27, is getting candid about what she experienced before her surprising diagnosis at age 25 — and wants other women to learn more about this gynecological disease.
- After experiencing heavy periods that lasted six months, the London-based law graduate confided in her roommate who urged her to get in to see her doctor, which is why she was able to catch the disease early at 1A, before the cancer had spread.
- Whether you’re reporting unusual symptoms or have been newly diagnosed, it’s always a good idea to prepare a list of questions to get full use of the time spent with your doctor.
- SurvivorNet has put together a comprehensive guide to understanding endometrial cancer, which you can read HERE while waiting to get in to see your provider.
Endometrial cancer, which is also known as uterine cancer, or womb cancer in the UK, is cancer that begins in the endometrial lining of the uterus, which is the hollow, pear-shaped pelvic organ where a fetus develops. The uterus is the hollow, pear-shaped pelvic organ where a fetus develops.
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Additionally, Amy said she “wrongly assumed” that most women have “some sort of issue with their period, from pain to heavy bleeding or irregularities.”
RELATED: Endometrial Cancer — How to Spot the Signs And Symptoms Earlier
Amy was immediately sent for an ultrasound and referred to a gynecologist, who discovered her endometrial polyps, which are growths attached to the inner lining of the uterus.
Most polyps are benign, or non-cancerous. Amy explained that her doctor “simply said I likely had too much estrogen in my womb, and didn’t seem overly concerned, so I tried to keep calm too.”
Amy’s Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis
Once the results from the polyps came back, Amy was told she needed an MRI scan for further investigation. After an “agonizing two weeks” of waiting for her results at her follow-up appointment, Amy learned of her endometrial cancer diagnosis. News she had understandably been “dreading,” she said, especially at such a young age.
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Any diagnosis can be terrifying, but once you are able to process the experience and learn more information from your doctor and understand what is going on with your body, for many survivors, things tend to settle in time.
For Amy, she was able to look back on her diagnosis and be thankful she had caught it early at stage 1A. And that she was able to spare having to have chemotherapy treatment, which can affect fertility.
Like many other survivors, she also been inspired to become an advocate for the disease.
“My hope in speaking out is to help end stigma and raise awareness of lesser known gynecological cancers,” she shared. “At first, I felt embarrassed to tell some of my friends, family and colleagues about my diagnosis, but I needn’t have.”
“Talking about gynecological health can help to save lives — it’s an incredibly important thing to do,” she added.
Two years later, Amy is happy to say she is still free of cancer.
Endometrial Cancer: The Basics
Facing an endometrial cancer diagnosis can be scary and stressful — but take comfort in knowing that there are many different approaches to treatment, including several new and promising treatment options, even for advanced disease.
In people with endometrial cancer, the cells in the uterine lining start to grow abnormally. This cancer can happen at any age, but is more common in women who have gone through menopause.
Fortunately, like Amy, most people with endometrial cancer are diagnosed early, when the cancer hasn’t spread beyond the uterus.
“As with disease in general, whether it be diabetes or endometrial cancer or even dementia, it’s important to find the disease at an early stage because potentially with treatment you can stop the disease from progressing,” Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist and associate professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, tells SurvivorNet.
Symptoms of Endometrial Cancer
The symptoms of endometrial cancer may vary from person to person, but the most common one is unusual vaginal bleeding.
- More than 90% of women with endometrial cancer (also sometimes called uterine cancer) experience abnormal vaginal bleeding.
- If you are still having periods, abnormal bleeding might mean bleeding between periods or having very heavy periods.
- If you have gone through menopause and stopped having periods, any amount of vaginal bleeding is considered unusual. This is even more important if you are not taking hormone therapy for menopause symptoms like hot flashes or vaginal dryness.
- It’s normal for people who are taking hormone therapy for menopause to experience some bleeding in the first few months of treatment. But, if you are on hormone therapy and notice any bleeding, it’s still something you should talk to your doctor about.
“So it’s very, very important to spread the word that if you have irregular bleeding, even a pink discharge, it doesn’t have to be bright red blood, even a pink discharge, don’t hesitate or don’t be afraid to get that checked out,” Dr. Chase stresses.
RELATED: Don’t Ignore Your Risk Factors — Catching Endometrial Cancer Early Can Make a Difference
Other symptoms of endometrial cancer may include:
- Pelvic pain: Some women may experience pain or discomfort in the pelvic area.
- Pain during intercourse: This symptom is less common but can occur in some cases.
- Unusual vaginal discharge: Watery or blood-tinged discharge may be a sign of endometrial cancer.
- Weight loss: Unexplained weight loss can sometimes be associated with cancer.
- Urinary problems: Difficulty or pain when urinating
Many of these symptoms could generally be a sign that something is wrong and don’t necessarily point to uterine cancer. All the more reason to proactively seek a medical opinion when you notice something unusual happening with your health.
Should I Be Screened for Endometrial Cancer?
Doctors don’t recommend endometrial cancer screening for most women. However, there are some very important exceptions:
- Any women with a history of ovarian cancer
- Any women who has experienced any unusual bleeding or other significant symptoms that could be related to a diagnosis
- Women with Lynch Syndrome, an inherited genetic disorder, that increases risk of cancer, should be screened yearly starting at 35 years old.
- Women with a history of certain hormone-related conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Women who have undergone hormone replacement therapy without progesterone.
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“We don’t yet have a screening test for endometrial cancer,” Dr. Chase says. “The one patient that you might be able to screen for endometrial cancer with endometrial biopsies is a patient that has known Lynch syndrome.”
“So if you are known to have Lynch syndrome — like you’ve been tested for it and you have Lynch syndrome, which is that hereditary cancer syndrome that is associated with endometrial cancer, you could be eligible for this screening protocol, which I would discuss with your doctor.”
RELATED: What is Lynch Syndrome? And Why Is it Important to Know About for People Fighting Cancer?
Dr. Chase also recommends that women with a condition known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pay special attention to their risk.
“PCOS is a condition that involves irregular menses — they don’t ovulate every month. So in order to have regular periods, you have to ovulate every month. And if you don’t ovulate, you might not have a period for several months, or you might have two periods within three weeks. Anovulatory bleeding is a risk factor for endometrial cancer, and it’s one of the characteristics of a patient that has PCOS,” she explains.
She also highlights the heightened risk of endometrial cancer for women who are being treated with a drug called Tamoxifen for breast cancer.
Learning About Treatment Options for Endometrial Cancer
“Tamoxifen is a drug that’s frequently used in certain breast cancer patients to try to prevent their cancer from coming back,” Dr. Chase says. “It can stimulate the endometrial cells to proliferate and if they proliferate uncontrollably, they can turn into endometrial cancer.”
Taking the drug doesn’t mean you should go in for more frequent exams or biopsies, she clarifies, but if you have irregular bleeding on Tamoxifen, it should be brought to the attention of your doctor immediately.
Additionally if you have a metabolic condition such as obesity, type 2 diabetes. or metabolic syndrome, it’s worth having a discussion with your doctor to see if screening makes sense for you. And of course, make an appointment with a health care professional if you experience any symptoms that worry you.
Can Endometrial Cancer Be Prevented?
While certain factors like age and genetics can’t be changed, there are ways to lower your risk.
- Maintain a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise, as obesity is a significant risk factor.
- Consider the use of oral contraceptives (birth control pills), which can reduce the risk of endometrial cancer.
- Manage hormone therapy carefully, as estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) without progesterone may increase the risk of endometrial cancer.
- Control conditions associated with insulin resistance, such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome, through proper management and healthy lifestyle changes.
- Limit alcohol and tobacco. Both up the risk of endometrial cancer.
- Get regular check-ups and screenings, especially if you fall into a high risk category.
- Immediately see a doctor if you have any abnormal bleeding or other symptoms that could be related to endometrial cancer.
- Consider preventive measures, such as prophylactic surgery or medications, if you are at high risk because of genetic factors like Lynch syndrome.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Should I be screened for uterine cancer?
- Is the vaginal bleeding I’m having abnormal?
- If I have cancer, how advanced is it?
- How will we manage my care?
Contributing: SurvivorNet staff.
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