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CANCER
FACTS - Uterine Corpus
| Signs
and Symptoms |
Abnormal
uterine bleeding or spotting. Pain and systemic symptoms are late
manifestations of the disease. |
| Risk
Factors |
Estrogen
is the major risk factor for the most common type of cancer of the
uterine corpus. Estrogen-related exposures include: estrogen replacement
therapy, tamoxifen, early menarche, late menopause, never having
children, and a history of failure to ovulate. Progesterone plus
estrogen replacement therapy (called hormone replacement therapy,
or HRT) is believed to largely offset the increased risk related
to using only estrogen. Research has not implicated estrogen exposures
in the development of the other types of endometrial cancer, which
are more aggressive and have a poorer prognosis. Other risk factors
for uterine corpus cancer include: infertility, diabetes, gall bladder
disease, hypertension, and obesity. Pregnancy and the use of oral
contraceptives appear to provide protection against endometrial
cancer. Hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer, a genetic syndrome,
also has been associated with endometrial and ovarian cancer. |
| Early
Detection |
The
Pap test, highly effective in detecting early cancer of the cervix,
is rarely effective in detecting early endometrial cancer. Women
40 and over should have an annual pelvic exam by a health care professional.
Endometrial biopsy is recommended at menopause and periodically
thereafter for women at very high risk of developing endometrial
cancer, although the frequency of biopsy is at the discretion of
the physician. |
Source:
Cancer Facts & Figures 1998 - American Cancer Society
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