Research shows that 3% of women receive a uterine malignancy diagnosis, whereas over 65,000 people experience it annually. However, the complex nature of this illness and the symptoms can make it challenging for healthcare professionals to provide a quick diagnosis.
In today’s blog, we’ll discuss what uterine malignancy is and how your doctor delivers an accurate diagnosis:
A Quick Glance at Uterine Malignancy
Uterine malignancy refers to cancer in the inner lining of your uterus, significantly affecting the reproductive system. In addition, in rare cases, the cancer may develop in the muscle wall of your uterus and result in vaginal bleeding before or after menopause.
Furthermore, women with uterine malignancy may experience lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, cramping, or frequent and heavy bleeding.
How Do Doctors Diagnose Uterine Malignancy?
While there are no standard screening tests for endometrial malignancy, your healthcare professional may use the following tests to identify the presence of cancer:
An Endometrial Biopsy
Your gynaecologist may ask for an endometrial biopsy involving the removal of tissue samples with a thin tube. Once the doctor receives the tissues from the inner uterine lining, they’ll analyze it to ensure an accurate uterine malignancy diagnosis.
If you experience abnormal bleeding before the test, your healthcare professional may recommend a D&C to spot abnormal cells.
An MRI or CT Scan
Many doctors require a CT scan to better picture the inside of your body with X-rays and a dye called a contrast medium. Your healthcare professional may provide you with a pill or liquid or inject the dye into your veins to ensure a clear image of your uterus.
Moreover, you may have to take an MRI test to give your doctor an in-depth photo of your inner uterine lining to determine growth and measure its size.
Many doctors require a CT scan to better picture the inside of your body with X-rays and a dye called a contrast medium. Your healthcare professional may provide you with a pill or liquid or inject the dye into your veins to ensure a clear image of your uterus.
Moreover, you may have to take an MRI test to give your doctor an in-depth photo of your inner uterine lining to determine growth and measure its size.
A Hysteroscopy
In this test, your healthcare provider inserts a tubeinto your cervix to create a detailed image of your inner uterus to look for abnormal endometrial growths. Remember that your healthcare provider may use local anaesthesia to numb the pain.
An Ultrasound
Healthcare providers may request a pelvic or transvaginal ultrasound to get a clear picture of your uterus, ovaries, and the uterus. The test involves ultrasonic sound waves and a transducer to check for signs of endometrial cancer in the muscle and inner lining.
Besides this, your doctor can measure how thick your endometrium is through ultrasound testing.
Ways to Prevent Uterine Malignancy
There is no scientifically proven way to prevent uterine malignancy; however, you can minimize the risk of getting uterine cancer by staying physically active and keeping a healthy weight. In addition, using birth control pills or taking progesterone/estrogen can reduce your risks.
However, we recommend consulting your healthcare professional or dietitian before trying new medication or lifestyle changes.
The Bottom Line
Diagnosing uterine malignancy involves multiple steps due to its complexity. Your gynae will review the results of various tests to identify if you have cancer and how far the disease has grown.
If you have symptoms of uterine malignancy, contact your doctor to identify its placement and receive a timely diagnosis.
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/uterine/basic_info/prevention.htm
https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/uterine-cancer/diagnosis
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16409-uterine-cancer