How do I know if I have uterine cancer?
Although today there is no way to know if I have uterine cancer with a screening test; What we do know is the importance of recognizing the warning signs to achieve an early diagnosis.
Most common symptoms of uterine cancer
Most women do not develop pre-cancerous signs or symptoms when it comes to uterine cancer, but they do occur during the early stage of the disease.
In fact, the symptoms of advanced uterine cancer are acute, mainly due to the fact that organs and tissues are involved.
In these cases, it is recommended to seek medical attention.
Signs and symptoms of uterine cancer may include:
Pain during sex
Bleeding after menopause
Back or pelvic pain
Increased vaginal discharge
Spotting after menstruation
Heavier menstrual bleeding
Bleeding after sex or after a pelvic exam
Blood in the urine
One of the areas most affected by the symptoms of cervical cancer is the urinary tract; affecting various structures such as the kidneys, urethra or bladder.
At any of these points, lesions can occur that eventually cause bleeding through the urine.
Swelling in the lower limbs
Edematization of the lower limbs is a condition that causes accumulation of fluids in a tissue of the body; but in addition to uterine cancer, it can be caused by other types of cancer or conditions not related to this disease.
However, in the event of significant inflammation of the lower limbs, studies should be carried out to help determine the cause of its occurrence.
Difficulty having a bowel movement
Gastrointestinal complications such as constipation, fecal impaction or intestinal obstruction are frequent problems in a wide range of pathologies.
Even so, there is a link between the symptoms of uterine cancer and this problem that deserves attention from the treating doctor.
Problems urinating
The patient who suffers from uterine cancer experiences urinary retention that can also lead to other discoveries.
It is also common for age or pelvic organ prolapse to accentuate the likelihood of presenting this type of situation.
Less common symptoms of cervical cancer
Basically, talking about the symptoms of cervical cancer is difficult, because its appearance occurs in very advanced stages.
Consequently, when much less common alterations occur, they can go unnoticed and be downplayed.
Some of them are:
Watery vaginal discharge
Fluid flow normally occurs inside the vagina to help remove dead cells and bacteria, helping to protect the urinary and vaginal tracts from possible infections.
When this discharge changes appearance or becomes more homogeneous, it is a suspicious symptom that you should check for.
Vaginal bleeding with foul odor
Obviously, this type of bleeding is not only caused by uterine cancer.
If the patient suffers from fibroids, ectopic pregnancy, endometrial polyps, uterine infection, or other complications; It is normal for this symptom to manifest.
However, all these cases should be reviewed by a specialist doctor since each of them requires treatment that may include surgical intervention.
What to do if I have some symptoms?
First of all, the gynecologist as a specialist in the female reproductive system is in charge of reviewing any symptoms present in the patient to apply the corresponding treatment as soon as possible.
In fact, based on the criteria of this specialist, it is likely that additional tests will be requested and there will be some reference to oncology when the presence of cancer cells is presumed.
"That is why it is important to schedule regular gynecological check-ups, since in many cases cervical cancer can be prevented or treated in time with better chances of success for the patient."
