Uterine cancer: first signs and symptoms, treatment at an early stage. Symptoms of uterine cancer Uterine cancer signs and symptoms

Among all malignant neoplasms in women, uterine cancer is the most common, and its incidence and the number of young patients with this diagnosis are growing. Endometrial cancer is common to postmenopausal women, the average age of patients is 55-60 years, but it can also be found in young girls of fertile age. Features of hormonal levels during the postmenopausal period contribute to various hyperplastic processes of the endometrium. Such changes in the uterine mucosa most often become the “soil” on which cancer grows.

Since the presence of a tumor is accompanied by clinical manifestations already at an early stage, then the number of advanced forms (unlike cervical cancer) is small. The majority of neoplasms are detected quite early (more than 70% in the first stage of the disease), so such a tumor becomes a relatively rare cause of death. Endometrial cancer accounts for about 2-3% of all tumors of the female reproductive system.

Features of the anatomy and physiology of the uterus

Endometrial cancer of the uterus, often called simply uterine cancer, is a tumor that grows from the lining of the organ.

Knowledge of the main points of the anatomical structure of the uterus allows us to more accurately represent the essence of this insidious disease.

The uterus is an unpaired hollow organ, the main purpose of which is bearing a child and subsequent childbirth. It is located in the pelvic cavity, bordered in front by the bladder, and behind it is the wall of the rectum. This arrangement explains the appearance of a disorder of their function in the pathology of the internal female genital organs.

The body of the uterus (the upper section directly involved in pregnancy) consists of three layers:

Endometrium- the inner layer, the mucous membrane lining the surface of the uterus from the inside, subject to cyclical changes under the influence of female sex hormones and intended for favorable implantation of a fertilized egg in the event of pregnancy. Under pathological conditions, the endometrium becomes a source of cancer development.
Myometrium– a middle, muscular layer that can increase during pregnancy and is extremely important in labor. Tumors of smooth muscle origin (benign leiomyomas and malignant leiomyosarcoma) can grow from the myometrium;
Serosa- part of the peritoneum that covers the outside of the uterus.

The functioning of the endometrium is maintained through complex interactions between the nervous and endocrine systems. The hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries produce hormones that regulate the growth, development and subsequent rejection of the endometrium during the menstrual phase of the cycle if pregnancy has not occurred. It is violations of the neuroendocrine regulatory mechanisms that most often become the cause of diseases of the female reproductive system, including endometrial cancer.

Risk factors for endometrial tumors

As is known, in healthy tissue the development of a tumor is very unlikely, therefore the presence of disorders and predisposing factors is necessary that will cause a precancerous process and a subsequent tumor.

More often, endometrial cancer occurs in women who are overweight (obese), with diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and among disorders of the female reproductive system the following predominate:

Early onset of menstruation;
Late onset of menopause;
Absence or only childbirth in the past;
Infertility;
Neoplasms in the ovaries that can synthesize estrogen hormones;
Various menstrual cycle disorders.

causes of endometrial cancer of the uterus

It is known that female sex hormones (estrogens) can accumulate in adipose tissue, so their concentration may increase in obesity. This leads to excessive growth (hyperplasia) of the endometrium and polyp formation. Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by significant endocrine and metabolic changes, including those in the genital organs. Pathology of the ovaries, disturbances in the hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle, including those caused by stress and nervous overload, also contribute to the occurrence of various changes in the uterine mucosa that precede tumors.

In addition, we should not forget about the hereditary factor, when various genetic abnormalities predispose to the development of breast tumors, ovarian or endometrial cancer.

Precancerous changes and causes of endometrial tumors

The main cause of the tumor is most often an increase in estrogen levels, produced in the first phase of the menstrual cycle by the ovaries. These hormones promote the growth of the endometrium, increasing its thickness due to cell proliferation and the formation of convoluted glands necessary for the implantation of a fertilized egg. When there is a lot of estrogens, there is excessive growth of the endometrium (hyperplasia), increased proliferation (reproduction) of endometrial gland cells, which creates conditions for disruption of the division processes and the appearance of a tumor.

The processes that precede cancer are endometrial hyperplasiaand polyp formation. Most mature women have encountered such diagnoses at least once in their lives. The likelihood of tumor development as a result of these processes depends on the nature of the endometrial changes.

There are several types of hyperplasia:

Simple non-atypical hyperplasia;
Complex (adenomatous) non-atypical;
Simple atypical hyperplasia;
Complex (adenomatous) hyperplasia with atypia.

The first two options are characterized by excessive growth of the uterine mucosa with an increase in the number of glands in it. The term “adenomatous” means the presence of a large number of such glands, located close to each other and reminiscent of the structure of a benign glandular tumor - adenoma. Since the epithelial cells of the glands in this case do not differ from normal ones, these types of hyperplasia are called non-atypical (not accompanied by cell atypia) and are considered background processes that will not necessarily cause cancer, but may contribute to its development.

Simple and complex hyperplasia with atypia is a precancerous process, that is, the likelihood of developing a malignant tumor with such changes is quite high. Thus, in the presence of complex atypical hyperplasia, cancer develops in more than 80% of patients. Diagnosis of such changes requires special monitoring by gynecologists and appropriate treatment.

Polyps endometrium are focal growths of the mucous membrane and are most often found among elderly women. Since neoplastic (tumor) transformation of cells with cancer growth is possible in a polyp, it must also be removed.

Cancer that occurs against the background of hyperestrogenism is referred to as the so-called first pathogenetic type and it accounts for about 75% of all malignant neoplasms of the uterine body. Such tumors grow slowly, have a high degree of differentiation and a fairly favorable prognosis.

Sometimes a tumor develops without a previous hormonal imbalance, with a “healthy” endometrium. The reason for this phenomenon is unclear, but scientists have speculated about the possible role of immune disorders. This type of cancer is classified as second pathogenetic type(about a quarter of cases of cancer of the uterine mucosa). It has a poor prognosis, grows rapidly and is represented by highly malignant, poorly differentiated forms.

Third pathogenetic type Malignant endometrial tumors have recently begun to be identified and their development is associated with hereditary predisposition. This variant is usually combined with malignant tumors of the colon.

The age range of tumor development is noteworthy. Since hormonal disorders accompanied by hyperestrogenism are most often observed during the period of extinction of the hormonal activity of the female body and the onset of menopause, it is not surprising that endometrial tumors are more common in mature and elderly women. In addition, the described underlying conditions and risk factors are also more often diagnosed in older patients. In this regard, even if 15-20 years have passed since the onset of menopause, one should not forget about the possibility of tumor development in long-nonfunctioning organs of the reproductive system.

There is an opinion that long-term use of hormonal drugs can lead to the development of a malignant tumor of the uterine cavity mucosa. As a rule, this effect is achieved by medications with a high dosage of the estrogen component. Since modern hormone therapy drugs contain fairly low concentrations of estrogen and progesterone, the likelihood of tumor growth with their use is minimal, but women taking them still need to be examined regularly.

Features of classification and staging of uterine cancer

There are several classifications of endometrial cancer, but in practical oncology the most applicable:

According to the TNM system developed by the International Union Against Cancer;
Staging proposed by the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FIGO).

TNM system implies a comprehensive assessment of not only the tumor itself (T), but also the lymph nodes (N), and also indicates the presence or absence of distant metastases (M). Simplified, it can be represented as follows:

T0 – the tumor was completely removed during curettage and is not detectable;
T1 – tumor within the body of the uterus;
T2 – the tumor grows into the cervix;
T3 – periuterine tissue and the lower third of the vagina are affected;
T4 – cancer extends beyond the pelvis, grows into the bladder and rectum.

The nature of the lesion of the lymph nodes is described as N0 - no lesion was detected, N1 - metastases are detected by lymphography, N2 - lymph nodes are enlarged and palpable.

The presence or absence of distant metastases is designated as M1 or M0, respectively.

In addition, a special index G has been introduced, denoting degree of cancer differentiation:

G1 denotes well-differentiated tumors;
G2 – cancers of moderate differentiation;
G3 – poorly and undifferentiated tumors.

The G index is extremely important in assessing the prognosis of the disease. The higher the degree of differentiation, the better the prognosis and effectiveness of the therapy. Poorly and undifferentiated tumors, on the contrary, grow quickly, rapidly metastasize and have an unfavorable prognosis.

In addition to TNM, another classification is used that distinguishes Stages of development of uterine cancer:

stage I (A-C) – when the tumor grows within the body of the uterus;

stage II (A-B) – the tumor reaches the cervix, grows into its mucosa and stroma;

Stage III (A-C) characterizes a neoplasm growing within the small pelvis; the peritoneum covering the outside of the uterus and the ovaries with fallopian tubes may be affected, but the bladder and rectum remain not involved in the pathological process;

Stage IV (A-B), when the cancer reaches the walls of the pelvis and spreads to the wall of the bladder and rectum. During this period, distant metastases in other organs and lymph nodes can be detected.

Of no small importance is the histological type of structure of cancer of the uterine mucosa. Since the endometrium is a glandular tissue, the so-called adenocarcinoma(glandular cancer), occurring in almost 90% of cases, mainly among patients over 50 years of age. In addition to adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, glandular squamous cell carcinoma, undifferentiated and other variants are possible, which are much less common.

The stage of the disease is determined after surgical treatment and pathohistological examination of the removed tumor, lymph nodes, fiber and other tissues. This allows you to most accurately determine the extent of organ damage, as well as establish the histological structure of the tumor itself and the degree of its differentiation. Taking these data into account, a treatment regimen is drawn up and a further prognosis is determined.

Metastasis of endometrial cancer

Metastasis is the process of cancer spreading through the blood, lymph, and serous membranes. This happens because tumor cells, due to their altered structure, lose strong intercellular connections and easily break away from each other.

Lymphogenic metastasis characterized by the spread of cancer cells with lymph flow from nearby and distant lymph nodes - inguinal, iliac, pelvic. This is accompanied by the appearance of new foci of tumor growth and an increase in the affected lymph nodes.

Hematogenous route is realized by spreading tumor emboli (clumps of cells circulating in the bloodstream) through vessels to other internal organs - lungs, bones, liver.

Implantation path metastasis consists in the spread of the tumor throughout the peritoneum when it grows into the wall of the uterus, periuterine tissue, and it is also possible to involve the appendages in this way.

The intensity of metastasis is determined by the size and growth pattern of the neoplasm, as well as the degree of its differentiation. The lower it is, the earlier and faster metastases will develop, not limited to regional lymph nodes.

How to suspect cancer?

The main signs characterizing the possible growth of a tumor in the uterine cavity are pain, dysfunction of the pelvic organs and the appearance of discharge from the genital tract, which are:

Bloody;
Purulent;
Profuse leucorrhoea;
Watery.

Uterine bleeding occurs in more than 90% of endometrial cancer cases. In women of reproductive age, these are acyclic bleeding not associated with menstruation, which can be quite long and heavy. Since this symptom is also characteristic of many other diseases and changes in the uterine mucosa, significant difficulties may arise in the timely diagnosis of cancer. This is partly due to the lack of oncological vigilance among gynecologists in relation to women who have not entered menopause. In an attempt to find other causes of bleeding, time may be lost, and the cancer will progress to an advanced stage of destruction.

In elderly patients during menopause, uterine bleeding is considered a classic symptom indicating the growth of a malignant neoplasm, so the diagnosis is usually made in the early stages of the disease.

Purulent discharge characteristic of large tumors, they appear during their disintegration (necrosis) and the addition of bacterial flora. This condition, when purulent discharge accumulates in the lumen of the uterus, is called pyometra. It is also not surprising that there is an increase in temperature, general weakness, chills and other signs of intoxication and inflammation.

Profuse leucorrhoea are characteristic of large neoplasms, and watery discharge is a rather specific sign of the growth of endometrial cancer.

Pain syndrome, which accompanies endometrial tumors, is characteristic of late stages of the disease, with a significant size of the tumor, growing into the walls of the pelvis, bladder or rectum. There may be persistent, quite intense, or cramping pain in the lower abdomen, sacrum and lower back, as well as disturbances in the process of emptying the bladder and intestines.

Lack of awareness among women about uterine cancer, lack of alertness among doctors regarding cancer, ignoring regular visits to the doctor or postponing them even when any symptoms appear, lead to loss of time and progression of the disease, which is detected in an advanced form. In such a situation, treatment is not always effective, and the risk of death from endometrial cancer increases.

Important to remember: self-healing in the presence of cancer is impossible, therefore only timely qualified assistance when the first symptoms of endometrial cancer appear is the key to a successful fight against it.

How to detect cancer?

If suspicious symptoms or complaints appear, a woman should first go to the antenatal clinic. The main diagnostic measures at the initial stage will be:

Gynecological examination in mirrors;
Aspiration biopsy or separate diagnostic curettage of the uterine cavity and cervical canal;
Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
Chest X-ray;
General blood test, urine test, hemostasis study (coagulogram).

These simple and accessible manipulations make it possible to exclude or confirm the growth of a tumor, determine its size, location, type, and the nature of damage to neighboring organs.

At examination in mirrors The gynecologist will make sure that there is no damage to the vagina and cervix, palpate and determine the size of the uterine body, the condition of the appendages, and the location of the pathological focus.

At aspiration biopsy or curettage, it becomes possible to take tissue fragments with subsequent cytological or histological examination of the tumor. In this case, the type of cancer and the degree of its differentiation are determined.

Ultrasound can be used as a screening for uterine tumors in women of all age categories. The method is accessible for research by a wide range of people, provides a large amount of information, and is also simple and inexpensive to implement. During the study, the dimensions, contours of the uterus, and the condition of the cavity are clarified (the width of the so-called median M-echo is assessed). On ultrasound, an important criterion for cancer will be the expansion of the median M-echo, changes in the contours of the endometrium, and echogenicity.

To clarify data on tumor growth and the condition of other pelvic organs, it is possible to conduct CT and MRI. These procedures also make it possible to study the pelvic lymph nodes and identify metastases.

Rice. 1 - ultrasound examination, Fig. 2 - hysteroscopy, Fig. 3 - MRI

Hysteroscopy is a mandatory study if endometrial cancer is suspected. Its essence lies in the use of a special device - a hysteroscope, inserted into the uterine cavity and allowing one to examine its inner surface with magnification. Also, during the procedure, a targeted biopsy is necessarily taken from the affected area. The information content of the method reaches 100%. Hysteroscopy ends with separate curettage of the cervical canal and the uterine cavity, which makes it possible to evaluate the changes separately and correctly determine the location of tumor growth.

A new method for diagnosing endometrial cancer can be considered fluorescence study, which is accompanied by the introduction of special substances that accumulate in the tumor (photosensitizers) with subsequent registration of their accumulation. This method makes it possible to detect even microscopic foci of tumor growth that are inaccessible to detection using other methods.

The final and decisive stage of diagnosis for cancer of the uterine mucosa will be a histological examination of tissue fragments obtained during curettage or hysteroscopy. In this case, it becomes possible to determine the type of histological structure of the tumor, the degree of its differentiation, and in some cases, the presence of tumor ingrowth into the muscular layer of the uterus and blood vessels.

The diagnosis is made after a comprehensive and comprehensive examination of the patient using all the required laboratory and instrumental techniques. Final staging is possible only after surgical treatment with the most accurate assessment of the nature of tissue changes.

From timely diagnosis to successful treatment

The main directions of treatment for uterine tumors are surgical removal of the affected organ, radiation therapy and the use of chemotherapy.

Surgery consists of complete removal of the uterus (extirpation) with the ovaries, tubes and pelvic lymph nodes. If the operation is difficult or contraindicated, then it is permissible to use modern laparoscopic techniques, in particular hysteroresectoscopic ablation of the endometrium. The essence of the method is the destruction (removal) of the mucous membrane and several millimeters of the underlying muscle layer (myometrium). Such manipulation is possible in women with early forms of cancer in the presence of severe concomitant pathology that does not allow extirpation or long-term hormonal therapy.

During the operation, the ovaries are necessarily removed, regardless of the patient’s age, since they produce female sex hormones, and also often and early become the site of growth of metastases. After surgery, young women develop the so-called post-castration syndrome due to hormone deficiency, but its manifestations disappear after 1-2 months.

It is worth pointing out that more than 10% of patients are elderly and have severe concomitant lesions from the cardiovascular, endocrine system (arterial hypertension, diabetes, obesity, etc.), liver or kidneys. In some cases, these disorders also require correction, since the patient may simply not be able to tolerate surgery or chemotherapy.

If surgical treatment is necessary, for example, for a cardiovascular disease with the subsequent prescription of anticoagulants, then there is a risk of developing massive and dangerous bleeding from the tumor. At the same time, surgery to remove the tumor can lead to the patient’s death from heart complications. In such situations, so-called simultaneous operations are performed: a team of cardiac surgeons operates on the heart simultaneously with a team of oncologists who remove a tumor of the uterine body. This approach allows you to avoid many dangerous complications, and also makes it possible to carry out adequate and complete surgical treatment.

Radiation therapy

For uterine cancer irradiation may be one of the components of combination treatment. As a rule, external beam radiation therapy is performed on the pelvic organs or a combined effect. Indications for this method of treatment are determined individually depending on the woman’s age, concomitant diseases, growth pattern and degree of cancer differentiation. For poorly differentiated tumors that grow deep into the endometrium and cervix, combined radiation exposure (external and intracavitary) is indicated.

Since the use of modern equipment makes it possible to reduce the possibility of side effects to some extent, radiation reactions are still inevitable. More often than others, the bladder, rectum, and vagina are affected, which is manifested by diarrhea, frequent and painful urination, and discomfort in the pelvis. If such symptoms appear, you must inform your oncologist.

Chemotherapy not used as a stand-alone method for the treatment of endometrial cancer, but is acceptable as part of combination therapy. The range of drugs effective against such tumors is very limited, and the most commonly used regimen is CAP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and cisplatin). The drugs used in chemotherapy are toxic and have a cytostatic effect (suppress cell proliferation), which is not limited to tumor tissue, so side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and hair loss are possible. These manifestations disappear some time after discontinuation of cytostatics.

An important approach in the treatment of uterine cancer is hormone therapy, which can be an independent stage in young patients in the initial stages of the disease. It is possible to prescribe antiestrogens, gestagens or their combinations. Treatment with hormonal drugs is well tolerated by patients and does not produce significant adverse reactions.

After the first stage, which lasts about a year, the doctor must make sure that there is no tumor growth (morphological examination of the endometrium and hysteroscopy). If all is well, then you can begin to restore ovarian function and a normal ovulatory menstrual cycle. For this purpose, combined estrogen-gestagen drugs are prescribed.

Prognosis and prevention

The main indicators influencing the prognosis of endometrial cancer are the degree of differentiation (from the result of histological postoperative examination) and the extent of the tumor in surrounding tissues and organs. Usually, in the initial forms of the disease, the tumor is completely cured. Successful treatment is facilitated by early detection of the tumor.

Severe concomitant diseases and advanced age of patients not only greatly worsen the prognosis, but also limit the choice of methods for comprehensive comprehensive treatment.

With the third stage of endometrial cancer, about a third of patients survive, with the fourth - only about 5%, so it is very important to diagnose the tumor in time and not waste time.

All women treated for endometrial cancer are subject to constant dynamic monitoring by gynecological oncologists. In the first year, to prevent the possibility of relapse, it is necessary to examine the patient every four months, in the second year - once every 6 months, then - once every year. Not only a gynecological examination, ultrasound, but also an X-ray of the lungs are required to exclude the appearance of tumor metastases.

Prevention of uterine cancer is extremely important and should be aimed at maintaining normal hormonal levels and the ovulatory menstrual cycle, normalization of body weight, timely detection and treatment of background and precancerous changes in the uterine mucosa. An annual visit to the antenatal clinic, examination and ultrasound of the pelvic organs is mandatory. If any symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Any disease, including uterine cancer, is easier to prevent than to treat.

Video: uterine cancer in the “Live Healthy” program

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Uterine cancer is a malignant tumor of the uterus, which often manifests itself with frequent uterine bleeding. Uterine cancer is one of the most common types of malignant tumors in women.

Causes of uterine cancer

The exact causes of uterine cancer are not yet known, but it has been noted that certain factors increase the risk of developing this disease. An increased risk of uterine cancer is observed:

In overweight women;
In women with;
In women with diabetes;
In menopausal women taking;
If started before age 12;
If occurred at the age of over 55 years;
If the woman has never been pregnant;
In older women (the older the woman, the higher the risk of developing uterine cancer);
In women with;
In women being treated for breast cancer and taking the medicine Tamoxifen;
In women who have inherited a special gene that increases the risk of developing uterine and bowel cancer;
In women who frequently drink alcoholic beverages.

Types of Uterine Cancer

The uterus is a muscular organ, the internal cavity of which is covered with a special type of mucous membrane - the endometrium. Depending on the cells from which the malignant tumor developed, there are two main types of uterine cancer:

Endometrial cancer (adenocarcinoma)

This is a malignant tumor that grows from the mucous layer of the uterus. 75% of cases of malignant tumors of the uterus are endometrial cancer. This article focuses primarily on endometrial cancer.

Cancer of the muscular layer of the uterus (leiomyosarcoma)

This tumor is less common, occurring in approximately 15% of uterine cancer cases.

Symptoms and signs of uterine cancer

The main symptoms of uterine cancer are. Uterine bleeding due to uterine cancer can appear at different times of the cycle and, as a rule, is quite profuse.

If a woman has already reached menopause (her periods stopped more than a year ago), then with uterine cancer, uterine bleeding resumes, which can create a false impression of the resumption of the menstrual cycle.

Sometimes uterine cancer can manifest as scanty symptoms that do not stop for weeks.

In later stages of uterine cancer, the following symptoms may appear:

Pain in the lower abdomen
with an unpleasant odor
Losing weight for no apparent reason
Increased fatigue, weakness

Diagnosis of uterine cancer

A gynecologist may notice signs of uterine cancer during a routine gynecological examination. Uterine cancer may be indicated by an increase in the size of the uterus and a change in its shape (deformation).

To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe the following examinations:

Ultrasound of the uterus

Hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy

Surgery for uterine cancer

Typically, in the early stages of uterine cancer, the first step is surgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy). To reduce the risk of relapse (tumor growth again), doctors usually remove not only the uterus, but also the uterine appendages (fallopian tubes and ovaries), as well as lymph nodes that may have been affected by the tumor. On our website there are separate articles devoted to this topic: and.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy for uterine cancer can reduce the risk of relapse (re-growth of the tumor) after surgery, or can be prescribed as an independent treatment, or in combination with chemotherapy.

Hormone therapy

Since endometrial cancer is extremely sensitive to hormonal changes in the body, medications that reduce estrogen levels and increase progesterone levels in the blood can slow the rate of tumor growth.

Chemotherapy

Medicines used in chemotherapy prevent cancer cells from dividing and tumor growth. These medications may be prescribed as tablets or IVs. Chemotherapy may use one drug or a combination of several drugs.

After treatment for uterine cancer

After completing treatment for endometrial cancer, a woman requires careful monitoring by her doctor. Regular examinations and examinations will allow you to detect recurrence of cancer in time if the disease returns. Discuss with your doctor how often you need to see each other.

Typically, after treatment for stage 1 uterine cancer, a woman is advised to visit her doctor every 6 months for the first year, and then once a year.

After treatment for more advanced uterine cancer, check-ups with your doctor are required every 3 months for the first year, every 3-6 months for the second year, and then once a year.

If uterine cancer cannot be cured

In some cases, even despite adequate and modern treatment, uterine cancer cannot be cured. In this case, the woman is prescribed supportive treatment that helps cope with pain and prolong life for as long as possible.

is a disease that occurs in many places. In addition, in terms of prevalence, this disease ranks fourth after breast, skin, and gastrointestinal cancer. It is necessary to note the age when maximum risks appear: from forty to sixty years.

Diabetes, the immunodeficiency virus, early intimate contacts, the onset of menopause at a late age, menstruation disorders, infertility, early first birth, various sexually transmitted diseases, prolonged and frequent use of protective drugs against pregnancy, and frequent changes of sexual partners lead to an increased risk.

Conditions that are dangerous for the female body and most often, in the absence of timely and adequate action, become causes of cancer, deserve special attention. Such conditions are erosions, scars after childbirth, ulcers, epithelial growths in the form of polyps and condylomas, chronic inflammation.

What symptoms may there be

The clinical picture, first of all, suggests the existence of leucorrhoea and pain. However, usually these clinical manifestations appear only at the stage of tumor disintegration, namely at a late stage. In some situations, signs of uterine cancer practically do not appear for a long time.

The consistency of leucorrhoea can be mucous or watery, may include blood clots, and may have an unpleasant odor. When the disease is advanced, blood appears in significant quantities. Delayed discharge and the development of infection lead to purulent leucorrhoea, which manifests itself with an odor. In the last two stages, the situation with discharge worsens, as rottenness appears.

Bleeding may occur once or become regular, which suggests frequent recurrence. The volume of discharge also varies significantly: insignificant or significant. For cervical cancer, the most common bleeding is bleeding, which occurs during intimate contact, examination, lifting heavy objects, and douching. During menopause, spotting is most often an indicator of a malignant neoplasm.

Pain syndrome manifests itself only in the later stages, when the cancer involves the lymph nodes, as well as pelvic tissue with infiltrates.

General symptoms of uterine cancer, including sudden weight loss, appear only in advanced stages.

Signs of cancer

Signs of cancer depend on the situation related to menstruation and the woman's age.

Heavy bleeding may occur during menstruation. This occurs in the presence of menstruation and cancer. Menstruation becomes irregular.

After menopause, a complete absence of menstruation is expected, and the first signs are bloody, purulent discharge, which allows one to immediately identify cancer. The discharge may be abundant or scanty.

At the first suspicion of a disease, you should contact an experienced physician. You must remember that treatment of advanced stages is difficult.

Only if the symptoms are recognized in a timely manner does the treatment promise a high level of effectiveness.

Stages of the disease

The stages of uterine cancer allow us to determine the degree of danger of the disease and assess the possibility of a favorable outcome.

The first stage of cancer is a tumor that forms on the surface of the uterus. At this time, destruction of lymphatic vessels occurs. As a result, a woman may experience discharge, which is an alarming sign. In this case, pain is completely absent. If you are diagnosed with early stage uterine cancer, your chances of a full recovery are greatest.
The second stage of the uterus involves serious damage to cancer cells of the uterus. Cancer spreads from the body to the cervix. At this stage, bloody discharge appears, which is usually contact. This is due to the fact that the tumor leads to the destruction of blood vessels. As a result, the symptoms of the disease become more pronounced. At the second stage, a woman may face serious disorders of the reproductive system. Treatment remains possible and reproductive functions can be preserved.
At the third stage, cancer develops outside the uterus, and there are two options for the course of the disease. The oncological process can affect the vagina or parametric tissues of the peritoneum. In some cases, the lesions occur simultaneously. Unfortunately, the disease can go beyond certain boundaries. Now life is at serious risk.
The fourth stage leads to damage to neighboring organs. Metastases can appear in the liver, lungs, and spine. The infestation is large and serious, so the chances of success are minimal.

Features of surgical treatment

Cancer must be treated through surgery, which can have a high level of success.

Many patients must undergo removal of not only the uterus, but also its appendages. In some cases, lymph nodes located in the pelvis are also removed. In some cases, combined treatment is required, including surgery with radiation performed remotely and intracavitary gamma therapy. Radiation irradiation of the affected organs can be carried out before surgery, which is recommended in the third stage. Radiation therapy can be an independent technique, which is used only in cases of local spread of the oncological process and contraindications to surgery.

Therapeutic agents intended to effectively fight a tumor are usually prescribed for the third and fourth stages of the disease, as well as for neoplasms that differ in differentiation.

Most often, two types of treatment are successful: combined radiation therapy and extirpation of the uterus and appendages.

Treatment is determined by the stage of the disease:

At stage 1-A, which involves microinvasive oncology, it is necessary to extirpate the uterus, as well as its appendages.
At stage 1 (the process involves only the cervix), irradiation is necessary, either remote or intracavitary. Then it is necessary to remove the uterus and its appendages. The intervention promises to be expanded. In this case, surgery may be performed first, and then gamma therapy.
At the second stage, when the disease develops in the upper part of the vagina and there is a risk of spreading to the body of the uterus, the main technique is radiation therapy. Surgery is performed extremely rarely.
At the third stage, radiation therapy is performed.
At the fourth stage, irradiation is necessary, but its purpose is palliative maintenance of the body.

Symptomatic treatment allows you to successfully treat the disease.

What to do after treatment and in case of relapses

After treatment, it is imperative to diagnose the pelvic organs, and also give a smear for analysis. Additionally, to maintain a woman’s good health, chest radiography, intravenous pyelography, and ultrasound examination are required.

During the first twelve months you should visit a doctor once every three months, for five years - every six months, after five years - annually.

What is the best way to deal with relapses? If the oncological process is limited or localized, removal of the uterus is required. The amount of work is determined by the characteristics of the patient’s condition. Chemotherapy is required for distant metastases. Radiation therapy allows treatment for palliative purposes.

Consequences of cancer for women

In cancer, survival, which reaches five years after serious illness, after surgery, is determined by the stage of the disease. The survival rate ranges from forty-five percent to eighty-four.

In case of relapses, a quarter of sick women can be treated with radiation therapy, which is aimed at all pelvic organs.

With relapses with metastases, cure almost never occurs. The therapeutic effect depends on the characteristics of the body, but the result usually does not last long.

In stage four, the 5-year survival rate is only nine percent.

It should be noted that the result of treatment largely depends on how effectively it is carried out and how correct the treatment was selected.

Early diagnosis of cancer with subsequent prevention is possible only through regular examinations. At the same time, a certain regularity of prevention is assumed. For example, women who have already celebrated their 30th birthday should see an experienced physician at least twice a year. In any case, prevention is required after the start of intimate life.

Identification of dangerous conditions is facilitated by regular examinations, ultrasound tomography, and cytological studies. Treatment for uterine cancer can be avoided thanks to preventive measures.

Treatment of women's diseases is truly important. Only with this approach can the risk of developing cancer be reduced. This treatment must be carried out in a timely manner. Among the common signs of these diseases, one should note a chronic course, the presence of constant symptoms, and the lack of the desired effect of anti-inflammatory treatment. Only radical methods can be effective. Radical methods can reduce mortality by six times.

To successfully eliminate the disease, you should stop smoking and carry out full prevention of STDs.

Involving an examination of the cervix, it will allow you to find out and understand the true position of the woman and determine the optimal actions to eliminate unnecessary risks.

Unfortunately, the number of cancer diseases is only growing every year. In women, one of the leading causes is uterine cancer. has now increased, the female half of the population has a longer period of menopause, and doctors attribute the increase in incidence to this. The risk group most often includes women 40-60 years old.

What is uterine cancer

The uterus in women, like any other organ, has a three-layer structure. The inner one is epithelial tissue, the middle one is smooth muscle tissue and the outer one is connective tissue. As the disease develops, a tumor forms on the walls of the uterus, and then, if no treatment measures are taken, it will begin to spread throughout the body.

Due to the multi-layered structure of the uterus, the tumor comes in different types and differs in location.

Reasons for the development of the disease

Doctors came to the conclusion that cancer of the uterine body begins to develop to a greater extent if this organ has been repeatedly exposed to many factors, among which I would especially like to highlight the following:

Frequent abortions and ruptures during childbirth.
Inflammatory processes, especially of a chronic nature.
Dystrophic and degenerative changes in epithelial tissue that can occur as a result of hormonal effects.
Hereditary predisposition.
The presence of human papillomavirus or genital herpes in the body.
Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives.
Early onset of sexual activity, that is, before the age of 18.
Having a large number of sexual partners.
Having bad habits, especially smoking.
Lack of personal hygiene.

Despite the fact that there are many reasons that can provoke uterine cancer, life expectancy with such a diagnosis will depend on many factors. If you consult a doctor in time, you can easily cope with this disease.

Diagnosis of the disease

Making any diagnosis begins with a conversation between the doctor and the patient. A woman must be examined by a gynecologist; without a thorough examination, there can be no talk of any treatment or diagnosis.

The examination begins with an examination of the vagina and cervix using gynecological speculum. In the presence of a disease, it is usually possible to detect changes in tissues. Often, during examination, slight bleeding may begin as the tumor is injured.

If necessary, they may prescribe an examination through the rectum to clarify how much the pelvic walls are affected.

All these manipulations can be carried out if you have all the necessary equipment. It often happens that cancer at an early stage is not recognized due to incomplete examination. With the development of ultrasound diagnostics, this method began to be used to detect cancer tumors.

Since the development of cancer occurs in the lymph nodes, an X-ray examination is also prescribed. In some cases, MRI and CT are prescribed.

All examinations are very important to establish the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment, because if a woman has uterine cancer, life expectancy will depend on the effectiveness of therapy.

A timely visit to the doctor will allow you to identify the disease at an early stage. This guarantees a high cure rate.

Uterine cancer: symptoms and signs

Women need to monitor their health more carefully throughout their lives, and even more so after the age of 40, because it is at this age that the risk of developing cancer increases. Eae and all diseases, uterine cancer has symptoms and signs, so it is necessary to pay attention to all deviations from the norm in the functioning of the body. The trouble is that we are in no hurry to rush to the hospital as soon as we notice suspicious symptoms. It’s a pity, not only the quality of our life, but also its duration completely depends on this.

Most cancer diseases are dangerous because they begin to show their symptoms only in later stages, so it often happens that when a person asks for help, nothing can be done to help him.

It turns out that uterine cancer manifests itself differently at different periods of a woman’s life. Let's try to figure this out.

Signs before menopause

If a woman is not yet at the stage of menopause, then the following manifestations of this disease can be diagnosed:

Periodic bleeding from the vagina.
Menstruation becomes either more rare and scanty, or, on the contrary, it can come more often and abundantly.
Pain in the lower abdomen.

Nagging pain in the lower back.
Pain during sexual intercourse.
Purulent vaginal discharge.
Frequent urge to urinate.

Symptoms during menopause

When a woman goes through menopause, her periods stop completely. At this time, the following symptoms should alert you:

Any bleeding.
Sudden bleeding from the vagina.
Drawing pain in the perineal area.
Fast fatiguability.
Weight loss for no apparent reason.

If you find yourself with any of these symptoms, then you should not hope that everything will go away on its own. This is a rather insidious disease - uterine cancer, the photos confirm this.

Uterine cancer also occurs in pregnant women, but it is rare. This is quite dangerous for a woman's life. In this case, if the diagnosis of uterine cancer is confirmed, surgery is inevitable. You will have to terminate the pregnancy and begin treatment.

Stages of development of uterine cancer

Most often, any disease goes through certain stages, this can be said about a malignant tumor in the uterus. Oncologists distinguish the following stages of uterine cancer:

Zero. At this time, it is already possible to diagnose endometrial hyperplasia, which will certainly lead to the development of malignancy. It's just a matter of time, how quickly it will happen.
First stage. The tumor develops only in the body of the uterus itself, but the localization can be different:

Cancer cells affect only the epithelial cell layer.
The tumor begins to penetrate into the muscle layer.
Carcinoma grows into half of the myometrium.

3. Second stage. The cancer begins to affect the cervix, but does not spread beyond the organ. But there are also varieties:

Only the glands of the cervix are involved in the process.
The tumor affects the stroma of the cervix.

4. Third stage of the disease. Uterine cancer is already spreading beyond the organ, photos confirm this, but again there are its own divisions:

Carcinoma damages the serosa of the uterus and can spread to the ovaries.
Metastases appear in the vagina.
Metastases occur in nearby lymph nodes.

5. The fourth stage is the most serious. The tumor is already affecting the bladder and rectum. Metastases appear outside the pelvis.

When diagnosed with uterine cancer, the degrees also vary. This influences the prognosis of the disease:

High degree of differentiation.
Moderate.
Low.

Doctors note that the greater the degree of differentiation, the better the prognosis. Tumors with low grade metastasize quickly and are characterized by accelerated growth.

If you are diagnosed with uterine cancer, your life expectancy will depend on the stage and extent of the disease.

Cervical cancer

A malignant tumor can begin to develop not only in the uterine cavity, but also in the cervix, then they speak of cervical cancer. This disease also has its own stages of development:

First stage. The tumor develops only in the cervix.
Second. It has its own development options:

Penetration into the parametrium without moving to the pelvic wall.
Vaginal variant, when the tumor affects its walls.
The tumor develops endocervically. It can even affect the body of the uterus.

3. The third stage is also characterized by the presence of three options:

Infiltration of the pelvic wall occurs on one or both sides.
In the vaginal variant, the tumor extends to the lower part of the vagina.
Pelvic metastases appear.

4. Fourth stage. The following development options can be distinguished:

The tumor spreads to the bladder.
Cancer cells affect the rectum.
The tumor extends beyond the pelvis.

Different types of stages and development of the tumor help doctors give a clear idea of treatment methods and its effectiveness.

Treatment of uterine cancer

Currently, given the level of development of medicine, we can say that most cancer diseases are not a death sentence for the patient. But this is only if the person seeks medical help in a timely manner.

Treatment of malignant tumors is carried out taking into account the stage of the disease and its location. Most often the main methods are:

If treatment is started on time, then there is a high probability that you will have a successful cervical cancer; the photos clearly demonstrate the full life of women after surgery.

When a woman seeks medical help too late, the success rate of treatment is significantly reduced.

Disease prevention

Only if you regularly visit a gynecologist and undergo an annual physical examination, then you can be sure that cancer will be detected at an early stage.

As soon as a woman begins to be sexually active, she should make it a rule to visit a gynecologist every year. Regular examination, smear examination, and ultrasound of the pelvic organs can identify precancerous conditions. If they are treated in time, the development of tumors can be prevented.

This is how you can prevent it. Photos confirm that identifying such pathologies is quite simple if you undergo regular examinations. It is impossible to recognize the disease on your own and prescribe medications correctly; this should only be done by a doctor.

Most often, if inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs are not treated, then over time they can easily develop into cancer. Our health is only in our hands, and no one except ourselves will take care of it.

Treatment effectiveness

The effectiveness of cancer treatment can be judged by repeated cases of the disease. Relapse usually occurs in the first three years after therapy. For many, when diagnosed with cervical cancer, after surgery the vital functions of the body are normalized, the woman recovers and returns to her usual way of life.

If more than three years have passed since the operation and everything is fine with you, then we can guarantee with great confidence that a relapse is unlikely for you.

Prognosis for uterine cancer

Unfortunately, it is impossible to give a 100% guarantee that after treatment the tumor will no longer bother you. If the disease is detected in the first stages of its development, then about 90% of patients recover almost completely.

Considering that the quality of medical examination has now improved, a lot of work is being done on early detection of the disease, it can be guaranteed that the survival rate when cancer is detected will further increase.

Even if you have stage 3 or 4 uterine cancer, your life expectancy increases significantly with proper treatment. Survival rates can be improved by combining radiation with chemotherapy.

If a woman seeks medical help when metastases involve not only the uterus or cervix, but also neighboring organs, then the prognosis is not very good. In this case, it is much more difficult to influence cancer cells.

We can conclude that the quality and duration of our lives depends only on ourselves. Don’t be afraid to visit clinics; if a disease is detected in time, it can be treated much faster and more effectively.