Uterine or endometrial cancer
"It is possible to reduce the risk by avoiding hormone replacement therapy with estrogen alone, maintaining a healthy weight, daily physical exercise and a thorough control by your gynecologist in case of family history, risk factors, taking tamoxifen or any genital bleeding".
DR. JOSÉ ÁNGEL MÍNGUEZ
CODIRECTOR. GYNAECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS DEPARTMENT
Cancer of the uterus is a type of tumor that is most often located within the uterus and therefore can have a good chance of being cured. In most cases, prevention is not possible, but reducing risk factors reduces the probability of developing this disease.
Although different types of tumors can appear in the uterus, the most frequent is endometrial adenocarcinoma (mucous membrane that covers the uterus inside).
The objective of the Gynecologic Cancer Area of the Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra is to offer our patients individualized attention. To this end, we have a group of highly specialized professionals: medical oncologists, gynecologic oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, nuclear physicians, geneticists and specialized nurses.
This multidisciplinary approach allows us to personalize the treatment of each patient in a consensual manner, seeking excellence and innovation.
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What are the symptoms of uterine cancer?
The most frequent symptom, in almost 90% of cases, is vaginal bleeding, which appears on dates that do not correspond to menstruation, essentially in the postmenopausal period.
- Abnormal vaginal discharge, especially brownish in color.
- Pain or bleeding with sexual intercourse.
- Pelvic pain.
The most common symptoms are:
- Vaginal bleeding.
- Brownish vaginal discharge.
- Pelvic pain.
Do you have any of these symptoms?
You may have uterine cancer
What are the causes?
The exact causes of uterine cancer are unknown. The risk increases if there are chronically elevated estrogen levels and the woman is past menopause.
Predisposing factors are considered to be obesity, a history of infertility or lack of pregnancy, late menopause (over 52 years of age), polycystic ovarian syndrome, estrogen-producing ovarian tumors or the use of estrogen-containing hormones (e.g. hormone replacement therapy without added progesterone).
The hereditary syndromes most frequently associated with endometrial cancer are Lynch syndrome, Cowden syndrome and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer associated with BRCA1/2 mutations. If there is a family history of uterine cancer, it is advisable to consult a specialist in Clinical Genetics to perform the necessary tests and find out if there is a hereditary component.
What are the risk factors for uterine cancer?
- Late menopause (over 52 years old).
- Nulliparity (not having had children).
- Diabetes, hypertension, fat consumption, estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy, chronic anovulation (polycystic ovary or other causes).
- Taking tamoxifen frequently administered as part of breast cancer treatment.
- Hereditary conditions: carriers of the gene for hereditary nonpolyposis-linked colorectal cancer (Lynch type II).
- Personal history of breast or ovarian cancer.
- Endometrial hyperplasia.
- Some estrogen-producing ovarian tumors.
How is uterine cancer diagnosed?
Molecular diagnosis of endometrial cancer allows us to know with greater precision the prognosis and appropriate treatment for each patient.
In the diagnosis of uterine cancer, a complete clinical history and a detailed gynecological examination are performed first.
A blood test with determination of tumor markers will be requested.
A transvaginal ultrasound is often performed first to see the characteristics and thickness of the endometrium.
If the endometrium is very thickened or suspicious, it is necessary to rule out the presence of cancer and, to do so, it is necessary to perform a biopsy, which is sometimes done by hysteroscopy.
When it is confirmed that endometrial cancer is present, it is necessary to perform complementary tests to determine the extent of the cancer: CAT scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), PET-CT, etc.
In this way it is possible to know whether the tumor has spread or not, which is related to the most appropriate type of treatment in each case.
How is uterine cancer treated?
The usual treatment for uterine cancer is surgical. Depending on the size, location and stage of the tumor, the specialist will recommend one or another type of surgery, being necessary, in some cases, to completely remove the uterus by means of a hysterectomy and the appendages (tubes and ovaries). Also, depending on some prognostic factors (depth of invasion of the uterine wall and degree of differentiation) it is also necessary to remove the pelvic nodes and, in some cases, the aortic nodes.
In some cases in which there are adverse prognostic factors (lymph nodes with tumor, some histological types, etc.) that increase the risk of local and/or distant recurrence, it is recommended to administer radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy after surgery.
We have the latest technology in the administration of brachytherapy as well as proton treatment for endometrial cancer.
In advanced cases due to extension of the disease through the abdomen, chemotherapy should be administered after surgery that resembles that of ovarian cancer. Hormone therapy is frequently used in this type of tumor when it is disseminated.
The specialist will also consider the administration of radiotherapy after surgery to reduce the local and regional incidence of the tumor.
In patients of reproductive age and with the desire to have children, when the tumor is located in the uterine cavity and there is no suspicion that it infiltrates the uterine wall or is disseminated, treatment with hormone therapy can be given.
Proton therapy for cancer
Proton therapy is the most precise external radiotherapy modality, providing better distribution of radiation dose and therefore less irradiation of healthy tissues.
The Proton Therapy Unit of the Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra in its Madrid headquarters is the most advanced in Europe and the first in a Cancer Center, with all its healthcare, academic and research support.
Where do we treat it?
IN NAVARRE AND MADRID
The Gynecologic Cancer Area
of the Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra
The Gynecologic Cancer Area is a multidisciplinary unit focused on the treatment and research of tumors of the female genital tract.
We have professionals of recognized national and international prestige, considered opinion leaders in their field, who over the years have formed a team that places the patient at the center of its activity.
What diseases do we treat?
- Ovarian cancer
- Uterine or endometrial cancer
- Uterine cervical cancer
- Vaginal tumors
- Vulvar tumors
- Gestational trophoblastic disease
Why at the Clinica?
- High surgical specialization.
- Focused on the patient.
- State-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic technology.
- Research and clinical trials to offer the most innovative treatments.
Our team of professionals
