Endometrial Cancer In Women

In the United States, it is one of the eight-most common cancer of women. According to researches, the data shows that Hispanic women are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer than the general population and their median age at diagnosis is 48. In 1998, about 12,800 women were diagnosed in the US and about 4,800 died. Among cancers of the female reproductive tract, it is less common than endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. The rates of new cases in the United States was 7 per 100,000 women in 2004. Cervical cancer deaths decreased by approximately 74% in the

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women. It is considered to be one of the most common types of cancer of the female reproductive system. According to McGuire and Markman (2003), “despite advances in treatment over the last 40 years, ovarian cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed gynaecological malignancy, and causes more deaths than any other cancer of the reproductive system” (p. 4).

Endometriosis is classified into different stages such as I- minimal, II- mild, III- moderate and IV- severe. Most cases of endometriosis are classified as minimal or mild which means that there is mild scarring. Moderate and severe endometriosis typically results in cysts and severe scarring. During stage IV infertility is common. Some studies are proposing that women with endometriosis have an increased risk for developing different types of ovarian cancer known as epithelial ovarian cancer. This is the highest risk in women with both endometriosis and primary infertility. The combination of oral contraceptive pills are sometimes used as a treatment for endometriosis and it appears to significantly reduce the risk of endometriosis. The doctors at Mayo Clinic stated that the treatment for endometriosis is surgery or medications.

Endometriosis occurs when tissue grows outside of the uterus in to other organ structures in the body including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and lining of the pelvic cavity. Each month, hormones cause the lining of a woman's uterus to build up with tissue and blood vessels. The tissue and blood that is shed into the body can cause inflammation, scar tissue, and pain. As endometrial tissue grows, it can cover or grow into the ovaries and block the fallopian tubes. Trapped blood in the ovaries can form cysts, or closed sacs. It also can cause inflammation and cause the body to form scar tissue and adhesions, tissue that sometimes binds organs together. This scar tissue causes pelvic pain and makes it hard for women to get pregnant. Although there is no cure for Endometriosis, there are a number of treatments for the pain and infertility.

Excess exposure to exogenous estrogen is a major cause of EC, which can be through unopposed estrogen therapy, use of tamoxifen, and phytoestrogens.20,21,22 Systemic estrogen therapy such as oral tablets, vaginal rings, and patches have been found to increase the risk of endometrial hyperplasia or EC.21 Estrogen replacement after menopause have also being found to cause an increased risk when not adequately countered with progesterone replacement.21 Prospective cohort and case control studies have demonstrated an association between these sources and EC, with the dose and duration of use implicated in the increased incidence (RR range: 1.1 to 15 ). In a prospective study between 1996 to 2001, about 716,738 postmenopausal women were recruited to examine their use of replacement therapy and EC risk, there was increased risk of EC in women on estrogen only therapy(1.45 [1.02-2.06]; p=0.04), and reduced risk in those with cyclic combined therapy (relative risk 0.71 [95% CI 0.56-0.90]; p=0.005), when compared to women who have never used hormonal replacement therapy.20

The fourth most common cancer in women worldwide happens to be Cervical Cancer. It also has the fourth highest mortality rate among cancers in women.

As many as 1,400 women in Canada are diagnosed with cancer of the cervix each year. More than 400 die from it (Mah et al, 2011).

(Bulletti, Coccia, Battistoni, & Borini, 2010) defines endometriosis as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma tissue outside the uterus, which induces a chronic inflammatory reaction, scar tissue and adhesions that may distort a woman’s pelvic anatomy. These endometriotic lesions are commonly found on the pelvic peritoneum, ovaries, uterosacral ligaments, in the rectovaginal septum and vesico-uterine fold (Ferrero et al., 2014). Generally, they can grow in areas as diverse

Cervical Cancer is a type of cancer that is caused by an abnormal growth of cells in a woman’s cervix. The cells reproduce very rapidly and can become cancerous or remain benign. Every woman is considered at risk for developing this form, but it is seen more in women who are 30 years or older. Around 12,000 women will get cervical cancer each year (CDC, 2012). No one wants to hear a that they have a diagnosis of cancer, but the good news is that with early diagnosis and treatment survival rates for women with cervical cancer are extremely high. Here we will discuss risk factor, signs and symptoms, prevention, and treatments for cervical cancer.

Endometriosis is a medical disease that affects one out of ten premenopausal women. A dilemma doctors and women encounter is that most women do not know they have it until faced with symptoms, like dysmenorrhea and infertility, arise or they undergo abdominal surgery. Endometriosis can only be accurately diagnosed by direct visualization of endometrium fragments. Endometriosis occurs in the body when fragments of endometrium are found outside of the uterus and on other parts of the pelvis. The disease is not only difficult to verify but also difficult to treat. Since there is no cure, treatments for endometriosis range from pain management with combinations of oral contraceptives and hormonal therapy to removal of endometrium and in severe

Endometriosis affects an estimated 7% of women of child bearing age in the United States and most commonly women between the ages of 25 and 40 (Slon, 2002). This condition can also appear in the teen years, but not prior to menstruation. It is very seldom seen in women who have already gone through menopause. Once called the career woman’s disease, endometriosis was thought to have occurred due to delayed child bearing; however, statistics have proven higher risk as well as women whose periods last longer than a week with less than 21 days between them (Slon, 2002).

Endometriosis is a benign gynecological disorder characterized by the presence of cells of endometrial glands and stroma that grows outside the uterine cavity and is associated with pelvic pain and infertility. Ectopic endometrial tissue normally found in the pelvic cavity, but can also exist in all parts of the body. Signs and symptoms of endometriosis vary, tend to be progressive and recurrent and often creates difficulties for women and doctors (Fritz & Speroff, 2011).

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women and the leading cause of death among women in underdeveloped countries. In fact, 500,000 cases are diagnosed each year worldwide. This particular cancer is found mainly in middle-aged to older women; it is very rare to find it in women age fifteen and younger. The average age of women with cervical cancer is age 50-55; however, the cancer begins to appear in women in their twenties (2). It is also found in women of lower-class areas, as they are not able to see a gynecologist to be screened. African American, Hispanic, and Native American women are more prone to developing cervical cancer as well (1).

Endometrial cancer, sometimes called uterine cancer, is cancer of the lining of the uterus. Other types of cancer can form in the uterus, but they are less common. Endometrial cancer is the most common malignancy of the female genital tract, and the most common type of uterine cancer. Endometrial cancer usually affects postmenopausal women, but cases may occur at any age. Endometrial cancers are usually adenocarcinomas (tumors that begin in cells that make mucus and other fluids). The carcinoma is slow growing, but it can metastasize to the cervix, myometrium, vagina, pelvis and lungs.

Infertility and ovarian cancer are very serious problems that can be developed in women with endometriosis. Infertility is the main problem associated with endometriosis. It can be a major setback for seemingly healthy couples that want to start a family. “Endometriosis is associated with infertility in 30-40% of sufferers (World Endometriosis, 2011)” “The presence of endometriosis may involve masses of tissue or scarring (adhesions) within the pelvis that may distort normal anatomical structures, such as Fallopian tubes, which transport the eggs from the ovaries. Alternatively, endometriosis may affect fertility through the production of hormones and other substances that have a negative effect on ovulation, fertilization of the egg, and/or implantation of the embryo” (MedicineNet, 2013). Although