Womb Cancer

Women with womb cancer generally develop the disease after the age of 50.

In this article:

What is womb cancer?

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Effect on your life

Treatment

Advice & Support

What is womb cancer?
Womb cancer is also known as uterine cancer.

The womb is located in a woman’s lower abdomen and has a lining called an endometrial layer.

About cancer: Cancer is a disease where abnormal cells in the body begin to grow, divide and reproduce in an uncontrollable way. These abnormal cells then invade and destroy healthy tissue, including organs.

With womb cancer, the abnormal cells grow, divide and reproduce uncontrollably in the endometrial layer (or in the womb’s muscle wall), and then form a cancerous tumour. Where the cancerous tumour is malignant (dangerous), the cancerous cells can then spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream.

Symptoms
Symptoms of womb cancer include:

Heavier periods than usual

Post-menopausal bleeding

Bleeding between periods

Lower abdomen pain

Back pain and also pain in the legs

Weight-loss

Loss of appetite

Urinating more frequently

Vaginal discharge

Pain during sexual intercourse

Nausea

Tiredness

A general feeling of being unwell

Causes
Despite worldwide medical research, the exact cause of womb cancer developing is as yet unknown. However, you are thought to be at greater risk of developing the condition if you:

are overweight or obese

have had a late menopause

have had Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

are diabetic

have had breast cancer

have had radiotherapy to the pelvic area

Diagnosis
If you are suffering from the aforementioned symptoms, make an appointment with your GP immediately. After taking your medical history and asking you some questions about your symptoms, your GP may then carry out a short physical examination, to check for any abnormalities. To get a confirmed diagnosis of womb cancer, you will be referred to a specialist for tests.

Effect on your life
Being diagnosed with womb cancer can be a traumatic and emotionally shocking experience, and most people immediately see the blackest scenario.

Through consultations you will be encouraged to ask any questions, even if you fear they may seem trivial to someone else (if possible, it is advisable to take someone who is emotionally strong with you to your consultations, to act as a support).

Cancer nurse specialists are attuned to responding to your questions and will understand your needs.

Womb cancer will obviously have an enormous impact on your life. But the good news is that, for many women, there is life after womb cancer.

Treatment
There are several treatment options for womb cancer. These include:

Hysterectomy – where the womb is removed surgically.

Radiotherapy – high-energy radiation beams are focused upon the cancerous area of the womb, the purpose being to kill the cancerous cells, shrink the cancerous tumour, and prevent the disease from spreading to other parts of the body. (Note: with womb cancer treatment, sometimes radiotherapy is administered internally – radioactive material is implanted in the womb in an attempt to destroy the cancer cells).

Chemotherapy – where chemical agents/drugs are administered in order to kill cancer cells.

Note: Where other treatments prove unsuccessful and a cancerous tumour in the womb returns, Hormone Therapy may be considered. In liquid or tablet form, artificial progesterone may be prescribed as this has been proven to slow down the progression of womb cancer (in some cases).

The type of cancer treatment recommended to you will depend upon the stage your cancer has reached.

Advice & Support
Cancer Research UK
Tel: 020 7121 6699, 020 7242 0200
Website: www.cancerresearchuk.org

Macmillan Cancer Support
Tel: Helpline 0808 800 1234 (free phone)
Tel: 020 7739 2280 (standard rate)
Website: www.cancerbackup.org.uk


This information and advice is not intended to replace the advice of your GP or chemist. Chemist Online is also not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based upon the content of the Chemist Online website. Chemist Online is also not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.

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