Womb Cancer Research: Uterine Or Endometrial Cancer

Womb Cancer
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Womb Cancer
Cancer of the womb or uterus refers to the cancer that affects the female reproductive system. This cancer is also known as uterine or endometrial cancer. Cancer of the womb starts occurring when the cells within the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium) start growing out of control. The uterus consist of two main parts, which are the cervix and the body or corpus. Despite the fact that the cervix is technically part of the uterus, when talking about the cancer of the womb, it means the body not the cervix (NHS Inform, 2017). There are two types of womb cancer. Uterine sarcomas begins at the muscles (myometrium) surrounding the womb and endometrial carcinomas begins within the inner lining of the uterus and it is the common type of womb cancer.
It is not precisely clear what causes womb cancer but there are certain things known to increase or trigger the risk of developing it. One cause is hormone imbalance especially women with high levels of the hormone oestrogen in the body (Amant et al., 2005). Various things lead to hormone imbalance and this includes obesity, diabetes, and even a procedure called hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Another possible cause of womb cancer is the long-term use of the breast cancer drug called tamoxifen. Reproductive history also influences womb cancer especially in women who have not had children because the increased levels of progesterone and decreased levels of oestrogen is lowered during pregnancy (NHS Inform, 2017).
The most common symptom of womb cancer is abnormal bleeding from the vagina. For example, bleeding during menopause should be checked because it is abnormal. Bleeding between periods is also abnormal and heavier periods than usual for those who have not gone through menopause. A watery or bloody va...