The risk of womb cancer varies from woman to woman, although there are a few risk factors that put a woman at an increased risk of developing it. The best way to reduce your risk is to keep your weight at a healthy level. The steps below are based on Continuous Update Project research and may help you make an informed decision about your health. Take note of the dates and length of any bleeding, and keep track of the intensity of it.
Your gynecologist may recommend a biopsy to detect womb cancer. This is an important first step, because there are several other conditions that can cause symptoms of womb cancer. If you think you may have one of these conditions, be sure to see your GP for a check-up. The earlier you’re diagnosed with womb cancer, the easier it is to treat. In addition to a biopsy, your doctor may recommend other treatments, depending on the type of cancer.
Surgery is the most common treatment for womb cancer, although chemotherapy and radiotherapy are also used. Chemotherapy is given before and after surgery. It aims to shrink any remaining cancer that is left after surgery. Sometimes, radiotherapy may also be given alongside surgery. While chemotherapy may be an option, you’re not expected to become pregnant. The goal is to alleviate your symptoms and prolong your life. When surgery is not an option, treatment can include other therapies, such as hormone therapy.
Women have a pear-shaped muscular organ called the womb. It contains lining cells called endometrium that is shed every month. While endometrium is essential for a woman’s fertility, womb cancer is more common in women who are over 50. Anyone with a womb can develop womb cancer. While most cancers occur in women, trans-men and people assigned as female at birth may also develop womb cancer.
In the meantime, a new blood test can help identify precancerous growths that may be cancerous. With this test, a woman can avoid potentially fatal womb cancer and preserve her fertility. But more research is needed to confirm its value in screening high-risk women and those with risk factors, such as diabetes and obesity. The test must have a high degree of specificity, because false positive results can be dangerous and can lead to unnecessary investigations.
After undergoing surgery for womb cancer, a woman should follow up for at least five years. This way, doctors can determine if the cancer has recurred and whether it is treatable or not. In addition to surgery, other treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, may be recommended. The womb cancer patient should visit their GP for a follow-up appointment if she develops any new symptoms.
Women with type 2 diabetes, which results in an increased level of insulin in the blood, have a higher risk of developing womb cancer. This condition is often associated with weight gain, irregular periods, acne, and facial hair. The ovaries have multiple small cysts and fewer ovulation cycles than women without this condition. Additionally, women with type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop womb cancer. Therefore, women with diabetes should monitor their blood glucose levels.
