Endometrial cancer Health Article

Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding or any other symptoms of endometrial cancer. This is particularly important if you have any associated risk factors or if you have not had routine pelvic exams.

Any of the following symptoms should be reported immediately to the doctor:

• Bleeding or spotting after intercourse or douching
• Bleeding lasting longer than 7 days
• Periods that occur every 21 days or more
• Bleeding or spotting after 6 months or more of no bleeding at all

Prevention

All women should have regular pelvic exams beginning at the onset of sexual activity (or at the age of 21 if not sexually active) to help detect signs of infection of abnormal development. Women should have a Pap smears beginning 3 years after becoming sexually active.

Women with any risk factors for endometrial cancer should be followed more closely by their doctors. Frequent pelvic examinations and screening tests such as a Pap smear and endometrial biopsy should be considered.

Women who are taking estrogen replacement therapy should have regular pelvic examinations and Pap smears.

References

American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2008. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society; 2008.

Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG. Clinical Oncology. 3rd ed. Orlando, Fl: Churchill Livingstone; 2004:2273-2304.

Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007.

Hernandez E. American College of Obstericians and Gynecologists. ACOG Practice Bulletin number 65: Management of endometrial cancer. Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Apr;107(4):952.