Endometrial Carcinoma

Endometrial Carcinoma – General Information

Endometrial Carcinoma – Symptoms

Endometrial Carcinoma – Treatment

The diagnosis for Endometrial Carcinoma is usually made by a microscopic test of the cells that exist in the uterine lining. The cells are elevated by a suction procedure called scraping biopsy. The endometrial biopsy consists in scraping the uterus. There are cases in which the diagnosis of the disease requires dilation and curettage procedures, because the female patient has a small cervical opening or discomfort. When a patient in whom Endometrial Carcinoma has affected a part of the differential, the hysteroscopy procedure is contraindicated because the fluid used to dilate the uterine cavity for the test, can disseminate the carcinoblastomas through the fallopian channels inside the peritoneal cavity. There is another procedure called pelvic sonogram, which shows the thickness of the uterus cavity, an important sign of the cancer. Generally, if the uterus walls are thin, 5 mm, the doctor can be sure that the patient does not suffer from Endometrial Carcinoma. Another sign of cancer presence is the unusual uterine bleeding. In most cases, the prescribed treatment depends on the stage of the cancer and on the age of the female patient. If the patient has no reproductive desires, the doctor can remove the both tubes and both ovaries by a procedure called abdominal hysterectomy. This kind of operation is usually made in postmenopausal patients.

After they get rid of the reproductive organs, the doctors can also prescribe a treatment trial with progesterone, administered orally. Progesterones are types of hormones that have to be taken for more than two months to treat the uterine lining. After treatment ends, the patient has to make another biopsy to see if the treatment has worked. If the progesterone treatment is prescribed in the early stage of the Endometrial Carcinoma, the cancer can be cured. After this, the doctor prescribes medication for life to prevent cancer recurring. However, if the cancer has not been cured with the hormonal treatment, the doctor can make a third biopsy, or, in some cases, a hysterectomy, which is the main choice. The hysterectomy procedure consists in removing both the tubes and ovaries, leading to the appearance of a fluid from the uterus cavity, which contains the cancer cells. There are cases, in which the doctor diagnoses the patient with high grade cancer and can remove the whole uterus. This kind of procedure is considered risky, because it can lead to the appearance of severe complications such as infections, bleeding and injury in the bladder, rectum and ureter area. It can also cause the development of other conditions which can include pulmonary embolism, characterized by several blood clots on the legs that can travel to the lungs. There is another operation that can be applied in Endometrial Carcinoma called post operative radiation. This procedure consists in invisible external beam radiation, which is administered daily. The radiation therapy can develop several side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, intestinal obstruction, bleeding from the bladder, rectum or vagina and fistulas in the urinary tract. After these operations doctors can prescribe chemotherapy for full recovery.