A woman who had difficulty with daily life due to heavy menstrual bleeding despite being in menopause was diagnosed with endometrial cancer
A woman who had suffered from menstrual irregularities that were so severe that they made daily life difficult was finally diagnosed with endometrial cancer. She had visited the hospital several times because she felt something was wrong with her body, but the doctors could not find a clear cause, only attributing it to her age.
According to a report by the British daily The Daily, Rachel Conyers (56), who lives in Harrogate, Yorkshire, had been having menstrual periods that did not stop despite being past the average age of menopause, and her menstrual flow was so heavy that she had difficulty with her daily life. This symptom continued for over four years. Even when she wore incontinence pads, blood would leak through her clothes, making it difficult for her to go out. She used to enjoy running, but she was unable to run for a while due to the worsening pain. She visited the hospital several times during that time, but they all said it was because of her age.
Then, last year, the bleeding got so bad that blood was soaking through the bed sheets, so she went to the emergency room of a local hospital. This time, the doctor couldn’t find any problems and discharged her, but she was referred to an obstetrician and gynecologist, so she was able to receive treatment eight weeks later. The obstetrician and gynecologist performed more detailed tests, and the doctor said that they suspected precancerous cells. She was very shocked, as she had never suspected cancer because she was normally healthy. Then, in December, she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer, and in January of this year, she had a total hysterectomy to remove her fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, and cervix.
“Cancer has changed my life,” he said. “This whole experience has taught me how important it is to live each day to the fullest.”
Endometrial cancer characterized by abnormal vaginal bleeding
Endometrial cancer is a cancer that occurs in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. Most cases present with abnormal vaginal bleeding, and occur most often in women in their late 50s to early 60s.
According to the Central Cancer Registry data released in 2023, among the 277,523 new cancer cases in Korea in 2021, 3,549 cases were endometrial cancer, accounting for 1.3% of all cancer cases and 2.7% of all female cancer cases. By age group, those in their 50s were the most at 34.2%, followed by those in their 60s at 24.2% and those in their 40s at 19.9%.
The exact cause of endometrial cancer is unknown, but it is known that certain factors cause genetic mutations in endometrial cells, causing abnormal cancer cells to grow. The main risk factor is high levels of estrogen, which stimulates the endometrium to thicken. Also, if there is a family history of endometrial cancer, breast cancer, or colon cancer, the risk of developing endometrial cancer may increase. Many studies have also shown that obesity increases the risk of developing endometrial cancer.
The most common symptom of endometrial cancer is abnormal uterine bleeding. When a postmenopausal woman has vaginal bleeding, she should be examined for the possibility of endometrial cancer. In the case of young women before menopause, irregular menstruation is not necessarily suspected of endometrial cancer. However, women with risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, no childbirth experience, and a family history of endometrial cancer should consider the possibility of endometrial cancer when they have excessive or irregular menstrual bleeding. In addition to abnormal vaginal bleeding, if the disease has spread to other organs, it may be accompanied by lower abdominal pain, tenderness, hematuria, frequent urination, rectal bleeding, and back pain.
The primary treatment for endometrial cancer is surgery. Surgery is a method of partially or completely removing the tumor and surrounding tissue. Generally, a hysterectomy is performed along with a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which is prone to metastasis. If metastasis to the lymph nodes is suspected or found, the pelvic lymph nodes and the lymph nodes around the abdominal aorta are removed. After surgery, the stage of endometrial cancer is determined, and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy are planned based on the stage and risk factors for recurrence. Since endometrial cancer is a cancer affected by female hormones, hormone therapy is also performed.
There is no recommended early detection program for endometrial cancer, like cervical cancer. However, it is not necessary to have regular hysteroscopic ultrasounds. If you have excessive menstrual flow or irregular periods, or vaginal bleeding despite menopause, visit an obstetrician and gynecologist for treatment. Since obesity increases the risk of developing endometrial cancer, maintain an appropriate weight through diet control and regular exercise.
Source: kormedi.com
