Endometrial CancerBy Jamie LoberIt is important to know <strong>the</strong>facts on endometrial cancer,sometimes referred toas uterine cancer. “Endometrialcancer is <strong>the</strong> most commongynecologic cancer inwomen accounting for aboutforty thousand cases eachyear,” informs Dr. Dwight Im,Director for The GynecologicOncology Center at MercyHospital in Baltimore. Thisoccurs when <strong>the</strong>re is a thickeningof <strong>the</strong> uterine liningor excess of estrogen. “It isa case of having too much ofa good thing turn into a badthing,” says Im.If you are in tune to yourbody, you can detect endometrialcancer in its earliestand most curable stage.“Luckily, once <strong>the</strong> uterine liningbecomes thicker it givesyou a little warning signwhich is bleeding. This iswhy three quarters of endometrialcancers are typicallydetected in stage one whenit is more than ninety percentcurable,” tells Im. Theamount of blood is not indicativeof <strong>the</strong> seriousness of<strong>the</strong> cancer. “There is no correlationbetween <strong>the</strong> amountof bleeding and <strong>the</strong> degree ofcancer, so you can have a badcancer and only a little bit ofspotting,” explains Im. Anynew discharge from <strong>the</strong> vaginashould also be reportedto your gynecologist.Focus on <strong>the</strong> factors youcan control. “Obesity is amajor risk factor becauseyour body turns cholesterolinto estrogen and most of <strong>the</strong>work is done by your adrenalgland but fat cells also have<strong>the</strong> capability of turningcholesterol into estrogen,”explains Im. Estrogen is ahormone produced by <strong>the</strong>ovaries and may be takenby postmenopausal womenvia hormone <strong>the</strong>rapy. It isimportant that hormone<strong>the</strong>rapy has estrogen andprogesterone because whentaken alone, estrogen canheighten <strong>the</strong> risk of endometrialcancer. According to <strong>the</strong>American College of Obstetricsand Gynecology, o<strong>the</strong>rrisk factors are irregularmenstrual periods, startingmenstrual periods before agetwelve, late menopause, infertility,never childbearing,personal history of ovarianor colon cancer, diabetes, hypertension,thyroid disease,smoking and use of tamoxifento prevent or treat breastcancer.Diagnosis is made in <strong>the</strong>gynecologist’s office. “It iscalled an endometrial biopsyand is usually a little moreinvolved than a pap smear,”describes Dr. Sarah Temkin,gynecologic oncologistat University of MarylandMarlene and Stewart GreenbaumCancer Center. A littletissue is removed from <strong>the</strong>uterine lining and evaluatedfor abnormal cells. A vaginalultrasound is sometimesused to determine <strong>the</strong> thicknessof <strong>the</strong> uterine lining and<strong>the</strong> size of <strong>the</strong> uterus.Perimenopausal women,or women who are in <strong>the</strong>irmid to late forties and arestill menstruating occasionally,should put extra efforttoward listening to <strong>the</strong>irbodies. “If you miss a fewmonths and have a periodthat is heavier than a normalperiod, that is abnormal andyou should be checked outfur<strong>the</strong>r. A period after skippinga few months shouldnever be heavier than a typicalperiod for that patient.This is how you miss cancer,”says Im.Typical treatment is a hysterectomy.“We can occasionallytreat young women whowant to get pregnant medicallyby giving <strong>the</strong>m progesteronewhich is an antagonistof estrogen that makes<strong>the</strong> lining thinner and canpotentially reverse all <strong>the</strong>effects,” shares Im. For thosewho are candidates, <strong>the</strong>re isano<strong>the</strong>r alternative. “Over<strong>the</strong> last few years, surgerycan be performed robotically,”reveals Temkin. Although<strong>the</strong> cancer is in <strong>the</strong> uterus,some women choose to have<strong>the</strong>ir ovaries removed since<strong>the</strong>re is an increased risk ofovarian cancer. Based on <strong>the</strong>stage of <strong>the</strong> disease, whichis determined during surgery,radiation is sometimesoffered to stop <strong>the</strong> growthof <strong>the</strong> cancer cells. Followupvisits are recommendedevery few months for at leastseveral years after diagnosis.Studies provide moreinformation about thiscondition. “There is a proportionatelink of women with24 Focus on Women Magazine
endometrial cancer that aregenetically linked to whatis most commonly thoughtto be a genetic colon cancertree but women with thatgenetic mutation get endometrialcancer more frequentlythan colon cancer,” educatesTemkin.Following some simpleadvice can be lifesaving. “Tofeel in control, <strong>the</strong> thingsto do are to try and have ahealthy lifestyle and regulargynecologic care andsee your doctor about yourbleeding patterns if <strong>the</strong>yare abnormal,” encouragesTemkin.Jamie Lober, author of Pink Power(www.getpinkpower.com), is a nationallyknown speaker dedicated to providinginformation on women’s healthtopics. She can be reached at jamie@getpinkpower.com.Subscribe Now and Save.Only $1.00 per issue. Fill out this form and send to Focuson Women Magazine, 4615 Oakview Court, Ellicott City,MD 21042. If you prefer, a PDF version of <strong>the</strong> magazinecan be emailed to you, instead of receiving a hard copy.Name:__________________________________________Address: ________________________________________City: ___________________ State: ____ Zip: _______E-mail: _________________________________________Name on Card: ___________________________________Credit Card Number: ______________________________Exp. Date: __________Amount: ___________Signature: ______________________________________Please check form of payment:o Check o Money Order o Credit CardIf paying by check, please enter amount $ _____.<strong>Make</strong> all payments out to Focus on Women Magazine.Free Research Treatment forCocaine And Opiate AbuseHealthy men and women who are between agesof 18-55 are needed to participate in an outpatientresearch study at <strong>the</strong> Johns Hopkins BayviewMedical Center. The study will last up to 31 weeksand will provide standard methadone maintenancetreatment.Total possible earnings are $1155.00Principal Investigator: Annie Umbricht, M D.RPN # N A0003333Approved May 07 2007 JHM IRBCall (410) 550-1102 and refer to study 0606For Focus Women, on Women To Women, Magazine About Women25
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