health

Uterine cancer is usually curable if it is found early, but unfortunately,
there are no reliable routine tests for this disease (although a Pap smear*
sometimes can detect early forms). Typically, it is found only after a
woman experiences symptoms, such as unusual bleeding or other discharge
from the vagina, pain or pressure, or weight loss.
If it is not caught early, uterine cancer can grow through the wall of
the uterus and metastasize (spread) to nearby organs. The cancer cells also
can enter nearby lymph nodes* and be carried to other parts of the body.
Uterine cancer affects about 40,000 women each year.
If doctors suspect uterine cancer based on a woman’s symptoms and a
physical examination, a biopsy* is necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
The most common treatments are surgery, radiation therapy, and
chemotherapy*. Surgery involves hysterectomy (the removal of the uterus
and nearby reproductive organs such as the fallopian tubes* and ovaries*)
and the removal of the lymph nodes near the tumor.
After the treatment is finished, most women can lead normal lives. If
their uterus was removed, however, they can no longer bear children. This
often is not an issue for women in their 50s and 60s, but younger women
in their 20s, 30s, and 40s may find it hard to adjust to this loss.