Endometrial cancer

Few things strike more fear in the human race than the thought of cancer. While we have developed many different treatment methods for cancers like endometrial cancer, we have no cure. Sure, some of the methods like aggressive chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery can remove the cancer so that it is no longer an immediate threat, the doctors never consider you to be cured—they consider your cancer to be in remission. It can come back and for many years you will be screened often and aggressively to find out if it is.

Endometrial cancer, a form of cancer specific to women, is a cancer that strikes the lining of a woman’s uterus. When diagnosed with endometrial cancer, many women are told that a hysterectomy is their best option. A hysterectomy completely and permanently removes the uterus from the woman’s body so she can no longer get pregnant, but also does nt need to worry as much about the cancer cells that caused her endometrial cancer.

What is endometrial cancer?
Like any kind of cancer, endometrial cancer is caused by cells that are abnormal and divide. Through this division, they spread, which can cause your cancer to become more than just a single spot tumor. A cell is the smallest part of a living being. Your entire body is made up of billions of collective cells. Each of your cells has atoms within it. The cells have a nucleus in the center, some gel type substance over the nucleus and a membrane surrounding all of that that keeps the cell together. The nucleus is basically the brain of your cell. It holds your DNA and determines the cell’s course of action. Within your nucleus are some protons, neutrons and electrons. Electrons must be paired with other electrons in order to balance them out but with some cancer causing cells, they are not.

For example, if you have watched any beauty cream commercials lately then chances are you have heard about how free radicals are ruining your skin. Free radicals are cells that have an unpaired electron. Because electrons within cells must be paired, these damaged cells go looking for another electron to leach. They do so by ruining other cells in your body, stealing one of their electrons and causing the general breakdown of your skin and potential for cancers like endometrial cancer.

In endometrial cancer, it is hypothesized that elevated levels of estrogen result in growth of the endometrial tissue that is excessive and is unhealthy. This tissue is filled with cells that are abnormal and mutated and they continue to proliferate and divide which causes them to spread. This is the activity that begins our cycle of cancer.

Symptoms of endometrial cancer
The symptoms of endometrial cancer are easy to recognize although they can be symptoms of other disorders as well. If you have weight loss, pain in your pelvis, longer than usual periods or bleeding in between cycles, bleeding after you have been through menopause or pain during intercourse, it could be a symptom of endometrial cancer.

The earlier you find out if you have endometrial cancer, the earlier it can be treated. This early treatment substantially improves your chance of surviving endometrial cancer so it is vital that you see your doctor immediately in you have any unusual symptoms in line with those of endometrial cancer. Getting annual pap smears and women’s screenings will also help with early detection, so make sure are always on schedule with your routine exams. During these exams, your doctor can check for, and rule out, many other types of cancer as well, so it is definitely a required check up.

Last updated on May 20th, 2011 and filed under Cancer Research. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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