Proactively Curbing Risk Factors, Wellness OB-GYN Care, Can Help Reduce Rise in Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system and include both endometrial cancers and uterine sarcomas. According to the American Cancer Society, this year about 66,200 new cases of cancer of the body of the uterus (uterine body or corpus) will be diagnosed. Good news is that by being watchful, proactive, and curbing risk factors like smoking, being overweight and lack of exercise, steps can be made to prevent endometrial cancer. If endometrial cancer develops, surgery, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, therapies using medication or hormonal therapy treatment options are available today. Talk to your doctor or other health care professional about how you might lower your risk of cancer.
Endometrial cancer affects mainly post-menopausal women and the average age of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer is age 60. According to the American Cancer Society, endometrial cancer is uncommon in women under the age of 45. There is a health disparity in endometrial cancer cases. According to the National Institutes of Health, in an analysis of SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) data that adjusted for hysterectomy, the incidence of endometrial cancer among black women has exceeded that of white women since 2000.
According to the National Cancer Institute, endometrial cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the endometrium. Obesity, diabetes and hypertension are a few conditions that are known to increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Taking tamoxifen for breast cancer or taking estrogen alone (without progesterone) can increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Most women with endometrial cancer have early symptoms. The most common symptom of endometrial cancer is abnormal uterine bleeding. For women who are premenopausal, this includes irregular menstrual bleeding, spotting, and bleeding between menstrual periods. For women who are postmenopausal, any bleeding is abnormal.
There is encouraging news on the latest in endometrial cancer care, in two new studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine, women with advanced endometrial cancer could live longer before tumors return if receiving immunotherapy and chemotherapy simultaneously. There are more than 600,000 survivors of endometrial cancer in the US today.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists there are many different reasons to see your OB-GYN this year including cancer screening, health maintenance, menstrual concerns, pregnancy care, menopause care, urinary incontinence and vaccinations.
Jonathan Turkish, MD, FACOG, is an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG). Dr. Turkish specializes in obstetrics, gynecology including menstrual irregularities, menopause, endometrial ablation, pelvic pain, hysterectomy, basic infertility workups, contraception, laparoscopy and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Turkish is on-staff at Good Samaritan Medical Center and his Palm Beach Health Network Physician Group office is located in the Victor Farris Building adjacent to the hospital at 1411 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 8000, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Dr. Turkish’s office can be reached at 561-440-2462. For more information on Dr. Jonathan Turkish, OB-GYN, visit his pbhnphysiciangroup.com website profile.