Review: Introduction to Uterine Cancer

Here is what we have learned from Introduction to Uterine Cancer:

• Cancers occur in the uterus include endometrial cancer, uterine sarcomas, and placental cancer.
• Endometrium is the lining of the uterus (uterine wall).
• Placental cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects placenta, the vascular organ that connects the fetus and the mother's uterus.
• Endometrial cancer is the most common type of uterine cancer.
• The incidence of endometrial cancer in women in the U.S. is 1% to 2%.
• Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia is classified into three types: hydatiform mole, invasive hydatiform mole, and choriocarcinoma.
• Although the exact cause of endometrial cancer is unknown, increased levels of estrogen appear to have a role.
• Risk factors for endometrial cancer, among others, include: use of hormones, age, obesity, late menopause, menometrorrhagia, Stein-Leventhal syndrome, family history of multiple cancers, personal history of breast cancer or rectal cancer, and parity.
• Some of the signs and symptoms for endometrial cancer are: abnormal vaginal bleeding, abnormal Pap smear, and advanced disease such as ascites, jaundice, bowel obstruction, respiratory distress.
• Risk factors for placental cancer include genetics, age, multiple pregnancies, hydatidiform mole, and abortion.
• Some of the signs and symptoms for placental cancer are: vaginal bleeding, abnormal discharge, lower abdominal pain, abnormal nipple discharge, uterus that does not decrease in size after pregnancy, and absent fetal heart tones.