Uterine cancer: symptoms

Uterine cancer, the symptoms of which can be variable, but fall into three main groups - discharge, pain and bleeding - is an oncological pathology that ranks second in prevalence after breast cancer. Uterine cancer is rarely diagnosed in women under 35-40 years old, more often it affects women during menopause. The etiology of the oncological process has not yet been specified, among the many causes that provoke cancer, the following factors are called:

• Metabolic disorders, excess body weight;
• Bad habits – smoking, alcoholism;
• Diabetes;
• Dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, hypomenorrhea and other types of menstrual cycle disorders;
• Polycystic ovary syndrome;
• Late menopause;
• Promiscuity, frequent changes of sexual partners;
• Early birth;
• Infertility;
• Venereal diseases, STDs (sexually transmitted diseases);
• HIV.

Uterine cancer may not show symptoms for a long time, however, there are precancerous diseases that should alert a woman and closely monitor the condition of the pelvic organs. Precancerous, background diseases include:

• Cervical epithelial erosions – pseudo-erosions. Erosive processes are divided into congenital, caused by hormonal changes and post-traumatic (abortions).
• Polyps are formations on the mucous tissue of the cervix, caused by hormonal changes and inflammatory processes.
• Leukoplakia is a gradual change in the epithelial tissue of the cervix, keratinization of the upper layers of the epidermis (hyperkeratosis).
• Thinning of the epithelium of the cervix (vaginal area) – erythroplakia.
• Papillomas are growths on the cervix.
• Endometriosis is a pathological proliferation of endometrial cells (the inner layer).
• Cervicitis is a pathological inflammation of the cervix caused by STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), viruses, abortive injuries, and erosions.

Uterine cancer, the symptoms of which depend on the area in which it is localized, is divided into two categories in clinical practice:

An oncological process in the cervix. Most often diagnosed in women over forty years old, less often cervical cancer develops in young women and those who have not given birth. Gynecologists associate this age-related feature with the risk of degeneration of scar tissue (childbirth, abortions, erosions) and changes in the hormonal system.

Cervical cancer is characterized by standard signs - discharge, periodic bleeding and pain symptoms, which appear, unfortunately, at the last stage of the oncological process. Whitish-gray discharge (leucorrhoea) is the first alarming symptom, which indicates that the tumor has already begun to disintegrate and damage the lymphatic vessels. If an infection joins the pathological process of disintegration, the discharge acquires a specific characteristic odor. Bleeding is rare, mainly at the terminal stage of the pathological process. They appear after intimacy, when the mucous tissue is injured or after a gynecological examination. These painful sensations are called contact, that is, with any contact, be it sexual or contact with a medical instrument, in the vagina, pain appears inside it. Often, uterine cancer, the symptoms of which indicate localization in the cervix, penetrates into nearby tissues. As a rule, the oncological process affects the bladder, then spreads to the rectum, the vagina is often affected. The last stage is metastases in organs distant from the cervix. The body of the uterus, as well as the ovaries, is not affected by the oncological process.

Uterine cancer, the symptoms of which indicate the localization of the process in the body of the uterus, is less common in clinical gynecological practice than the oncoprocess in the cervix. Background and cancer-provoking diseases are already a serious reason for a comprehensive examination and the beginning of long-term therapy, even if there are no threatening signs of cancer. The first stages of cancer of the body of the uterus are often asymptomatic, very rarely a woman can notice unusual bloody discharge. As a rule, uterine cancer localized in the body develops during menopause, when menstrual irregularities and bleeding are considered a physiological norm, characteristic of this period of changes in many body systems. If painful sensations appear, this is evidence of an already advanced process. Pain, as well as with the oncoprocess in the cervix, appears after various contacts - sexual, after examination or after active douching. Oncological pathology develops gradually in the early stages, the terminal stage is characterized by rapid metastasis to nearby lymph nodes - to the groin, lumbar region. Further, metastases affect organs separated from the uterus.

Uterine cancer symptoms may be clinically weak, signs of cancer depend on what area of the epithelium is affected by cancer and on the stage of development of the oncological process. Adenocarcinoma is an oncological process in the cervical canal and in the cavity of the uterine body, this pathology is also called glandular cancer. There is another type of cancer - squamous cell carcinoma, which develops directly in the cervix. Sarcoma is diagnosed least often, which has characteristic pain symptoms in the pelvic area, profuse and regular discharge. Sarcoma is also accompanied by a rapid increase in the uterus, the signs of which are similar to the typical symptoms of interstitial myoma or subserous myoma. Uterine cancer is divided into four stages or stages of development:

• The tumor is localized in the body - in the largest area of the uterus and is limited by the boundaries of the endometrium.

This stage is divided into sub-stages:

• An oncologic process accompanied by infiltrates into the muscular wall of the organ – the myometrium. There are few symptoms, they are weakly manifested.
• Cancer with infiltrates into the connective tissue layer, the tissue that surrounds the uterus – the parametrium. There may be discharge, but there is usually no pain.

An oncologic process that penetrates the cervix. Discharge often appears, there may be bleeding after sexual intercourse.

• The third stage is also divided into sub-stages:
  • Cancer with infiltrates into the connective outer layer - parametrium, penetrating into the pelvis. Regular discharge with a characteristic odor appears. Bleeding occurs after intimate contacts, less often spontaneous.
  • An oncologic process accompanied by metastases to the lymph nodes, as well as to the vagina and ovarian appendages. Painful sensations appear, most often in the pelvic and lumbar regions.
  • An oncologic process that affects almost the entire surface of the uterus - the peritoneum, but does not affect nearby organs. There is the entire classic triad - bleeding, leucorrhoea and painful symptoms.
• The fourth stage is the terminal stage of the oncological process in the uterus. This is divided into two stages:
  • An oncological process that develops and affects the rectum and bladder.
  • Cancer that has metastasized to other organs distant from the uterus.

Since uterine cancer often does not show symptoms, all women without exception, whose age has exceeded 40-45 years, are recommended to undergo a preventive examination by the attending gynecologist at least once every six months. In case of any alarming symptoms, you should contact a doctor, since the main principle of combating any oncological processes is early detection and diagnosis of cancer.

The main signs that should alert a woman are the following:

• Uterine cancer, the symptoms of which may appear before menopause:
• Spontaneous bleeding, bloody discharge that gradually goes away on its own, that is, the discharge stops after a few months.
• Irregular menstrual cycle - scanty discharge alternating with heavy discharge.

Uterine cancer, the symptoms of which appear during menopause:

• After your period stops, when menopause begins, you should be wary if discharge appears after a few months. It does not matter how abundant the discharge is and how often it appears. The main thing is that it resumes after a long pause.
• In addition to bleeding or discharge, there are signs that should alert and worry a woman of any age. These are characteristic pains in the lower abdomen or in the lumbar region, pain during sexual intercourse, pain in the vagina, apathy, fatigue and weight loss.

Uterine cancer, the symptoms of which are often hidden, requires from a woman not only an attentive attitude to her own health, but also a certain responsibility, courage and patience during treatment, if uterine cancer is confirmed. The result of treatment depends primarily on the timely detection of the oncological process, when it can be stopped at the first and second stages, the psycho-emotional attitude of the woman herself is also important, which helps to cope with this threatening and sometimes deadly pathology.

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