No one knows your body better than you do. Since puberty, you’ve learned to recognize the typical changes your body goes through and certain health issues you might face as a woman.
Like many of us as you get older, your schedule may become busier and often your health gets put on the backburner, which makes it easier to miss when something isn’t quite right.
While you may be familiar with the signs of breast cancer, you might not be as familiar with another female cancer:uterine (endometrial) cancer.
子宫癌是一种影响子宫内衬的癌症，并且当子宫中的癌细胞开始延伸失控时发生。根据疾病控制和预防的中心，子宫癌是most common gynecologic cancer，预计今年有近65,000名妇女将在美国诊断出来。
One Symptom You Should Never Ignore
所有女性都面临子宫癌症的风险，并且风险随着年龄的增长而上升。有时患有子宫癌的妇女根本没有症状，但是对于about 90% of womenthere’s one common symptom that shouldn’t be ignored: abnormal bleeding.
“Bleeding after menopause (or abnormal bleeding prior to menopause) is the most common symptom of uterine or endometrial cancer,” saidRobin Lacour，md，妇科和手术肿瘤学家Banner MD Anderson Cancer Centerat McKee Medical Center in Colorado. “It is distinctly abnormal.”
There are no routine screening tests for uterine cancer. So, if you’re having bleeding that is not normal for you, especially if you’ve gone through menopause, see a doctor right away. You should also see your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Abnormal bleeding when premenopausal (prior to menopause)
- Feeling tired all the time
- Loss of appetite or feeling full all the time
- Abdominal or pelvic pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Changes to your bowel or bladder habits
“It’s important to note that these symptoms aren’t specific to uterine cancer but could also be symptoms of other medical conditions as well, such asovarian cancer,” Dr. Lacour said. “However, no matter your age, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it should warrant a doctor’s visit.”
Your doctor can help you learn whether the bleeding is due to cancer or another condition that requires medical treatment. Then you’ll know what you’re facing, and together you can determinenext steps.
Ways to Reduce the Risk for Uterine and Other Female Cancers
There are steps you can take to reduce your cancer risk:
- Stay physically active:每周可获得至少150分钟的适度运动或75分钟的剧烈运动。
- Maintain a healthy weight:The best thing you can do is to eat healthy and重量这对你很健康。“大多数患者没有意识到肥胖是最大的危险因素，”拉古斯博士说。“如果您需要帮助，请随时与您的医生谈论如何开始。”
- Don’t skip your well woman exam:Did you know you should see you gynecologist once a year? Don’t fear the unknown. Make yourannual appointment.
- 了解您的家庭历史：Some uterine cancer can also be genetic or hereditary. It’s important to know your family history and discuss your potential risk with your doctor and if you could benefit fromgenetic counseling.
- Track possible symptoms:不要忽视标志。If you notice any changes, speak to your doctor or gynecologist. The CDC has a helpfulsymptoms diaryyou can download and track possible symptoms over a two-week timespan.
Takeaway
Uterine cancer, also known as endometrial cancer, is themost common gynecologic cancerin the United States The good news is that if it’s caught early, it’s highly treatable.
不要忽视标志。The most important thing you can do is to know the warning signs and bring them to your doctor’s attention. To find a Banner MD Anderson expert near you, visitvwin.comac德赢官方首页 .
To learn more about thediagnosis and treatment optionsfor uterine cancer, visit the主頁(欢迎您)网站或与您的医生说话。
