{"id":3659,"date":"2019-02-03T17:56:33","date_gmt":"2019-02-03T17:56:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=3659"},"modified":"2021-03-25T18:19:53","modified_gmt":"2021-03-25T18:19:53","slug":"15-signs-of-endometrial-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-signs-of-endometrial-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Signs of Endometrial Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The uterus is an organ in the shape of the pear in which the fetus will grow before being born. It is, of course, hollow, and as such is lined with a tissue known as the endometrium. This lining is where endometrial cancer gets its name because cancer grows in the lining. Most uterus cancers are in fact endometrial cancer. Some people who have endometrial cancer will be asymptomatic \u2014 showing no symptoms \u2014 until the disease spreads to other organs in their body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, there are some red flags that come with this type of cancer including vaginal bleeding, and the symptoms will only worsen as cancer progresses. Endometrial cancer can be hard to detect in women who have not yet gone into menopause and are still active in their menstrual cycle as their symptoms of vaginal bleeding may be mistaken for menstruation. It is easier to diagnose endometrial cancer in women who have already completed the process of menopause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Vaginal bleeding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vaginal discharge or bleeding is something that you\u2019ll find in nine out of every 10 women who have endometrial cancer. Prior to menopause, this would entail abnormally large volumes in their menstrual periods, or perhaps even bleeding in between their red days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the patient already entered menopause<\/a>, then any vaginal bleeding could be considered unusual unless she is undergoing HRT \u2014 hormone replacement therapy. While HRT does cause vaginal bleeding for some postmenopausal patients, the initial occurrences of bleeding should still be checked by a trained physician to ensure that the bleeding is in fact caused by hormone replacement therapy as opposed to endometrial cancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All that being said, even if someone notices vaginal bleeding, there is no need to panic. No more than 15% of postmenopausal women who experience bleeding actually have endometrial cancer. There are many other things that could cause vaginal bleeding without being as severe as cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Vaginal discharge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vaginal discharge <\/a>can come in many different hues and consistencies. Some discharges will be watery and take on a pink hue. On the other hand, there are less pleasant varieties of discharge. One such variety will take on a brown color, as well as a thick consistency and foul smell. This variety is sometimes mistaken for diarrhea and as such could leave endometrial cancer misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. If you notice vaginal discharge, it is imperative that you get a \u00a0\u00a0with your doctor to pinpoint the cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It does not necessarily mean that you have endometrial cancer, but it is important that your doctor finds out what caused it as soon as possible so that you can deal with any issues early on. Many women find it embarrassing to describe the nature of this symptom, and that\u2019s very understandable, but it\u2019s important to set shame aside and let the doctors do their work so that they can prevent any serious harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Painful urination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Painful or difficult urination is another symptom that might suggest you have endometrial cancer. There are other things that could cause difficulty urinating as well as pee that burns. Some of these are STDs <\/a>\u2014 sexually transmitted diseases \u2014 and as such this symptom is often left unreported as women are embarrassed to mention it to their doctors \u2014 fearing judgment and the possibility that their doctor will think they are promiscuous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, much like the above symptom, it\u2019s important that it is tested so that any problems can be nipped at the bud. Urinalysis is often the first test that doctors will perform on a patient who is suffering from painful urination. Don\u2019t worry, you\u2019ll have the utmost privacy while peeing in the provided sample cup. One the doctor has a sample of your urine, they will be able to test for various diseases and find out what is causing the pain when you urinate. Diagnosing your issue is the first step to treating it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Enlarged uterus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many women are surprised to hear that their uterus has become enlarged whenever they take a pelvic exam. Many women don\u2019t even notice the enlargement until it is pointed out by their <\/p>\n\n\n\n

during such an exam. There are many other things that might cause the enlarging of the uterus, but endometrial cancer is still a possibility. This is why it\u2019s important to run further tests after noticing an enlarged uterus<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many women choose to ignore it and think that the problem will resolve itself in time, though this is seldom the case. It\u2019s understandable that some people might avoid further treatment of a minor issue in fear of finding out about a more severe underlying condition. It\u2019s always a scary thought to find out that there\u2019s something wrong with our body, but it\u2019s extremely important if we hope to stay healthy and extend our time on earth with our loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Pain during intercourse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people neglect pain during intercourse. It is often blamed on their significant other getting carried away. That said, there are many occasions when the pain that occurs during intercourse is actually a result of an underlying condition. If you\u2019ve ever had a fight with your boyfriend while he insisted that he was being gentle, your genitalia might actually be hypersensitive due to an issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important that you not point fingers and instead go to your physician <\/a>to have a checkup. Sensitive genitals can be a symptom of serious diseases for both men and women, and as such, should be taken seriously and treated immediately. All that being said, it\u2019s also possible that the sexual partner isn\u2019t being cautious or is going too far in intensity. Never be afraid to tell your partner to slow down. If the pain is still present during gentle masturbation, get a checkup immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Vaginal soreness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many women shrug off vaginal soreness, thinking it\u2019s merely the result of last night\u2019s sexual encounter. While this may very well be the case, it\u2019s important to realize that there are other things that could cause soreness <\/a>in your vagina. If your vagina continues to be sore even during periods of abstinence, it\u2019s all the more important that you get a checkup with your doctor as soon as possible so that you can catch any problems early and nip it at the bud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chronic inflammation or soreness of the vagina might be a symptom of the early stages of endometrial cancer or other severe diseases that need to be treated immediately. This is another one of those symptoms that are often unreported due to the embarrassing nature, but pride goeth before the fall, and you need to get proper treatment if you don\u2019t want to cut your life short and miss out on all the great experiences that our planet has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Unexpected weight loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, weight loss is a good thing, especially if you\u2019re overweight. That said, it\u2019s important to keep a lookout for unexpected weight loss<\/a>. If you\u2019re losing weight without exercising or dieting, this might be a sign that your body is weakened by an underlying condition. This is even more true for those who barely have physical activity throughout the day or even eat more than the daily recommended caloric intake for a person of their size and age. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice yourself losing weight without any obvious reason, stop flexing in the mirror and head over to your doctor stat. Your doctor will be able to tell you if the weight loss is normal or if it is caused by a condition such as endometrial cancer that needs immediate treatment. Even if you exercise, you should still get a checkup if you find your weight loss to be too rapid, and outpacing those who have exercised for much longer than you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Lower body pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you feel pain <\/a>or weakness in your legs, back, or lower abdomen, this could be caused by endometrial cancer. Lower body pain is usually a symptom that is reserved for the later stages of the diseases. It only occurs when cancer has spread beyond the uterus and into other organs such as the ovary or even lungs. If you notice this symptom, it\u2019s imperative that you run tests at the hospital and consult with your physician. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This symptom, if indeed causes by endometrial cancer, suggests that the disease is entering its later stages and needs immediate treatment if you have any chance of turning it around. Much like the symptoms listed above, endometrial cancer is not the sole cause of it. There are many other things that could cause pain or fatigue in these areas. But it\u2019s still important that you confirm that you are cancer-free so that you can put your mind at ease and get any necessary treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Lethargy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any cancer is likely to cause an amount of lethargy <\/a>(tiredness). This is because all is not well in the body, and your system is fighting hard to try and drive out any potential infection or poison. General tiredness is one of the earliest symptoms of all forms of cancer in fact, and therefore should be taken seriously and not ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not to say that you must be experiencing lethargy due to cancer. There are a great number of causes for excessive tiredness \u2013 but whatever the reason it is a good idea to check in with your physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another thing to consider is that you may be feeling extra tired in the case of womb cancer, due to the changes in your hormones (which help to regulate our sleep-wake cycle among other things), as well as the loss of blood which can also cause tiredness and anemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Sickness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sickness is another symptom that can occur due to cancer. This can again be a symptom of any type of cancer. Here, the body is once again experiencing that something is \u2018wrong\u2019, and is generally trying to find out what.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whenever this happens, one of the natural defenses is to try and eradicate whatever might be causing the problem, and this will involve emptying the stomach. Thus you are likely to feel nauseous <\/a>and possibly sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, this sickness is caused by the body turning its attention away from digestion and the stomach and focusing on the immune system. That, in turn, suppresses the usual digestive functions and can cause a kind of butterfly feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, womb cancer, in particular, can lead to hormone changes that affect appetite and feelings of nausea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Unusual Periods<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that endometrial cancer is very often spotted early due to the large amounts of vaginal bleeding that it can cause.
However, one of the complications that can sometimes cause this symptom to be missed, is the fact that you might experience heavy bleeding anyway as a usual part of menstruation<\/a>. For this reason, women should look out for changes to their menstruation \u2013 if it appears much heavier for instance, then this can be a sign of a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, it\u2019s important to look out for any other sudden changes to your periods. For instance, if they become less regular, or if they stop entirely. This is very often nothing to worry about, but in some rare instances, it could be a sign of endometrial cancer, or of ovarian cancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, the thing to always be looking out for is change. We are all different, and all women experience periods differently. The key is to recognize your own baseline and to look out for any deviations from that. You know your body better than anyone, so be vigilant and listen to your gut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Bleeding Post Menopause<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another sign that the bleeding you are experiencing is not normal, is that you have already been through the menopause and you are still bleeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the menopause, you should find that your periods stop and you no longer experience bleeding at this time. That, in turn, means that any sign of heavy bleeding may <\/em>point to a problem such as womb cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But do keep in mind that a little post-menopause bleeding is actually normal (referred to as PMB). This is likely to last anywhere for up to 12 months. Likewise, it can be caused after this point due to drops in estrogen <\/a>levels, or inflammation. That said, you should always get this symptom checked out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Mood Swings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve seen how changes in hormones <\/a>can trigger changes to the womb that might cause bleeding. At the same time though, this interaction can also act in the opposite direction: meaning that changes to the womb can alter the production of hormones. And of course, we all know that fluctuations in hormones can also lead to changes in mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, you might find that you feeling \u2018low\u2019, weepy, or stressed as you being to develop the early signs of cancer. Again, there are many other potential reasons for this, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Difficulty Getting Pregnant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Both womb cancer itself, and the treatment that follows can have an impact on your ability to get pregnant. Likewise, the factors that cause womb cancer \u2013 such as changes to progesterone levels \u2013 can also impact your ability to get pregnant<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have been trying to get pregnant and have had no luck, then this can be due to a large number of factors. However, this is one possible explanation and it is an area to explore further with your physician. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that not all women who suffer from womb cancer will be left unable to get pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. Risk Factors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, risk factors <\/a>are not symptoms, but when considering whether signs might point to cancer, it can be very useful to consider how likely that is in your case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Numerous things can increase your chances of womb cancer. The primary issue to look out for is genetics \u2013 so if a member of your family has suffered from the condition, then it might be worth exploring yourself. If you have a genetic predisposition for cancer, then you may be able to get regular screening to help keep you safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other risk factors include early periods, older age, never having been pregnant, and more. Keep these factors in mind when considering the symptoms. If you suspect that there is any chance that womb cancer is responsible, then seek advice from your physician immediately \u2013 the sooner you get seen, the better your chances of a full recovery.
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