If you are wondering if endometriosis is cancer, you should first understand what staging means. The process of staging determines whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and how it will be treated. Certain tests and procedures are used to determine the stage of the cancer and the appropriate treatment. In most cases, endometrial cancer is treated with a hysterectomy. A sample of tissue is also removed and examined for signs of cancer.
Endometriosis is a pathological proliferation of endometrial tissues that can spread into other functional layers, including the myometrium and cervix. Endometriosis can occur on its own or spread from active development in the uterus to the cervix. A timely doctor’s visit is important to prevent complications from developing and to ensure a cure for the disease.
Diagnosis of endometriosis begins with a review of the patient’s medical history. A physical exam, including a pelvic exam, is also necessary to diagnose the condition. In severe cases, the condition may require laparoscopy, a procedure that involves the insertion of a small, sterile camera into a small abdominal incision. The video reveals the presence of endometrial growths and where they are located.
Surgery and targeted therapy are two options for treating endometriosis. Both methods use drugs to specifically attack the cancer cells, causing less damage to normal cells than traditional chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Examples of targeted therapy drugs include monoclonal antibodies, mTOR inhibitors, and signal transduction inhibitors. When combined with other treatments, surgery may be the best option. While the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and stroke is greater than that of cancer, hysterectomy is still the treatment of choice for most endometriosis patients.
While endometriosis is not a cause of cancer, it increases the risk of other gynecological conditions. Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer among women, and the average age at diagnosis is 60 years old. In rare cases, the disease spreads to other parts of the body, including the eyes, skin, and liver. It is possible for the cancer to spread to the bones, liver, or even the adrenal glands.
While endometriosis and cancer are common and often self-limited, surgical diagnosis is necessary in many cases. Because many women with endometriosis have no symptoms, they must undergo a laparoscopic biopsy to determine whether the disease has progressed to cancer. Cancers related to endometriosis, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer are also closely associated. These cancers are often difficult to diagnose and treat because they share symptoms with endometriosis.
Imaging tests are important for diagnosing endometrial cancer and endometriosis. The doctors will then send a small camera through a tube into the uterus or belly to see if there is a tumor present. This tissue is then tested for cancerous cells. If the tumor is present, the doctor will use additional tests to determine the exact type of cancer. In most cases, the cancerous cells are adenocarcinomas, which form from glandular tissue.
