Uterine Cancer
Uterine Cancer is the most common malignancy of the female reproductive organs.
It is the 4th most common cancer in women behind breast, lung and colon cancers.
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Risk Factors: |
| *No children or pregnancies |
| *Early menarche |
| *Late Menopause |
| *Obesity |
| *Unopposed estrogen therapy |
Signs or symptoms:
| *Unusual vaginal bleeding or spotting (Most Common) |
| *Vague pelvic discomfort |
| *Generalized weakness |
| *Unexplained weight loss |
Diagnosis:
Made by tissue evaluation for pathologic confirmation by either endometrial biopsy or dilation and curettage (D&C).
Stage:
| Stage I: | Carcinoma is confined to the uterus |
| Stage II: | The cancer has extended to the cervix |
| Stage III: | Extension of the tumor outside the uterus to other pelvic organs or lymph nodes |
| Stage IV: | Metastasis beyond the uterus, pelvis and lymph nodes |
Grade: A well-differentiated tumor has a better prognosis than poorly differentiated tumors.
| Grade 1: | well-differentiated |
| Grade 2: | moderately-differentiated |
| Grade 3: | poorly-differentiated |
Treatment:
Surgery is usually treatment of choice and includes hysterectomy with removal of the fallopian tubes, ovaries and lymph nodes in the pelvis.
Recommended Follow-Up:
| *Routine Pelvic exams along with PAP smears to be scheduled as follows: |
| -Every 3-4 months for 2 years |
| -Every 6 months for 3-5 years |
| -Yearly thereafter |