ARTICLES
Who Is At Risk Of Uterine Cancer?
All cancers begin in cells, the body's basic unit of life.
Tumors can be benign or malignant: Benign tumors are not
cancer.
Cancer that starts in the muscle layers of the womb is called
uterine sarcoma. This type of cancer is most common in women
between the ages of 50 and 70. Cancer of the uterus can also
be called uterine cancer. Cancers that start in the muscle
of the womb (sarcomas) are even less common. Cancer of the
uterus usually occurs after menopause.
The spread of cancer means metastasis. When uterine cancer
spreads outside the uterus, cancer cells are often found
in nearby lymph nodes, nerves, or blood vessels. If the cancer
reached the lymph nodes, cancer cells may have spread to
other lymph nodes and other organs, such as the liver, lungs
and bones.
When cancer spreads from its original place to another part
of the body, the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal
cells and the same name as the primary tumor.
For example, if cancer of the uterus spreads to the lungs,
the cancer cells in the lungs are actually uterine cancer
cells. The disease is metastatic uterine cancer and not lung
cancer.
As with any cancer, the exact reason why one woman gets
uterine and another does not is unknown. These have much
in common with breast cancer risks, since both cells in the
uterus and breast respond to hormone stimulation.
Symptoms of Uterine Cancer
Vaginal bleeding is the most common symptom of uterine cancer,
and is very suspicious for cancer in a woman after her menopause.
Of woman with new onset vaginal bleeding after menopause,
30% will have cancer, with the chance of it being uterine
or cervical about equal. Infection may be the first indication
of a cancer problem. If you find out that these symptoms
are present, it is best to seek medical attention to avoid
more complications that may mean more serious condition leading
to uterine cancer.
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