Endometrial Cancer: Often Curable When Caught Early
Obesity can raise the risk of endometrial cancer three to 10 times.

Endometrial Cancer: Often Curable When Caught Early

Postmenopausal women who experience vaginal bleeding should see a doctor promptly. According to the January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter, vaginal bleeding is a symptom that occurs early in the course of endometrial cancer, when the chance of a complete cure is the greatest. Even one drop of blood is abnormal in postmenopausal women.

The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. Endometrial cancer develops when cells divide and grow abnormally, potentially invading other layers of the uterine tissue or even spreading beyond the uterus.

Endometrial cancer, the most common uterine cancer, is most likely to occur between the ages of 50 and 70, although about 25 percent of cancer occurs in women between the ages of 40 and 50. The greatest single risk factor is being 30 pounds or more overweight. Obesity can raise the risk of endometrial cancer three to 10 times.

Awareness of signs and symptoms can be critical.

Read full article at Medical News Today.

January 16, 2010