Uterine (endometrial) cancer

Question 1

uterine cancer is also called

Answer 1

endometrial cancer

Question 2

uterine cancer is the _____ ______ pelvic cancer in women

Answer 2

most common

Question 3

at what age does the chance of endometrial cancer peak?

Answer 3

55-65 yrs

Question 4

where does uterine cancer usually develop and why?

Answer 4

usually develops in endometrial tissue, because it rapidly and actively proliferates
but may also develop in smooth muscle of uterus

Question 5

Etiology of uterine cancer?

Answer 5

• mostly related to excessive exposure to estrogen (hyperestrogenism)
• familial

Question 6

risks for uterine cancer?

Answer 6

• obesity (increased estrogen production & storage
• ageing (cumulative exposure to carcinogens)
• other reproductive cancers put at risk
• diabetes poses a risk (diabetes is a metabolic disease, metabolic link not v strong, diabetes does not cause uterine cancer)

Question 7

why is obesity a risk factor for uterine cancer?

Answer 7

adipose tissue stores estrogen, more adipose more storing of estrogen, adipose also has ability to synthesize (produce estrogen)

Question 8

approx 85% of uterine cancer is?

Answer 8

adenocarcinoma (glandular epithelium)

Question 9

what are the manifestations of uterine cancer?

Answer 9

• painless, abnormal vaginal bleeding (damage to endometrium & blood vessels)
• other mnfts relate to invasion & metastasis

Question 10

treatment of uterine cancer is ______ based

Answer 10

stage based (dont have a screen for uterine cancer, detection is generally late)

Question 11

treatment of uterine cancer

Answer 11

• stage based
• surgery and radiation
• may use hormone therapy (because estrogen dependent) this will stop growth of cancer, will not get rid of already present cancer

Question 12

patho of uterine cancer

Answer 12

• adenocarcinoma (approx 85%)
• slow growing
• extension to uterus (malignancy in endometrial lining then spreads through to muscle layers) & vagina
• late mets (lymph & blood)(if you leave cancer it will spread even though it is slow growing)
• no reliable screen

Question 13

90% of uterine cancer is _________ and it is ___________

Answer 13

90% of uterine cancer is type 1 and it is estrogen dependent

Question 14

10% of uterine cancer is _______ and it is _________

Answer 14

10 % of uterine cancer is type 2 and it is non estrogen dependent

Question 15

type 1 uterine cancer

Answer 15

• 90%
• estrogen dependent
• prolonged estrogen exposure: -endometrial hyperplasia
• better prognosis than type 2

Question 16

type _____ has a better prognosis than type _____

Answer 16

type 1 has better prognosis than type 2

Question 17

type 2 uterine cancer

Answer 17

• non estrogen dependent
• linked to endometrial atrophy (before cancer has atrophy of endometrium)
• poor prognosis