Among female cancers, endometrial cancer is relatively less known than cervical cancer, but it is on the rise, so it is necessary to pay attention. Learn about the risk factors for cervical cancer, treatment and prevention.
Early menarche, late menopause, and obesity are risk factors
According to data from the Central Cancer Registry of the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced in December 2021, out of 254,718 new cancer cases in 2019, 3,093 cases were endometrial cancer, accounting for 1.2% of all cancers and 2.6% of female cancers. . By age group, those in their 50s accounted for the most at 36.0%, followed by those in their 60s (22.7%) and those in their 40s (19.9%).
Endometrial cancer is a cancer that occurs in the endometrium, which forms the lining of the uterine body, and accounts for most of the uterine body cancers. It mainly occurs in women in their late 50s to early 60s, but recently it has also been seen a lot in young women in their 20s and 30s.
The exact cause of endometrial cancer is still unknown. It is presumed that some factors cause genetic mutations in endometrial cells, causing abnormal cancer cells to grow. In general, women who have never given birth, women who menarche early or late menopause, and obese women are known to have an increased risk of endometrial cancer compared to women who have never given birth.
Endometrial cancer causes abnormal uterine bleeding. Experts say that if there is vaginal bleeding in postmenopausal women, an accurate examination should be made with the possibility of endometrial cancer in mind. It is also advised that, in young premenopausal women, if there is excessive menstrual flow or irregular uterine bleeding, if there are risk factors for endometrial cancer such as inexperience or obesity, or a family history of endometrial cancer, the possibility of endometrial cancer should be considered.
If detected early, it is more likely to be cured through surgery.
Endometrial cancer is usually treated with surgery to remove both the uterus and ovaries. Endometrial cancer detected at an early stage is highly likely to be cured through surgical treatment to remove the uterus. After surgery, adjuvant radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy are usually performed after synthesizing the stage and risk factors for recurrence.
Endometrial cancer, like other cancers, has different treatment outcomes depending on how advanced the disease is at the time of treatment. It is known that the higher the stage, the poorer the tissue differentiation, the lower the location of the cancer in the uterine cavity, the worse the prognosis is as the degree of cancer invasion of the endocervix and the degree of invasion of the myometrium are severe. According to the data from the Central Cancer Registry of the Ministry of Health and Welfare released in 2020, the 5-year relative survival rate of cervical cancer between 2014 and 2018 was 88.6%.
So, what can you do to prevent endometrial cancer? Experts do not need regular uterine ultrasonography to diagnose endometrial cancer, but advise to see a gynecologist for an accurate diagnosis if you have excessive menstruation, irregular menstrual cycles, or vaginal bleeding even after menopause do.
In addition, obesity increases the risk of endometrial cancer, so it is important to maintain an appropriate weight through diet control and regular exercise. It is helpful to reduce the intake of high-calorie foods and eat enough fruits and vegetables.