Endometrial Cancer: Risk Factors, Screening, Treatment

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My sister, who is 56, recently was diagnosed with early-stage endometrial cancer. I’m wondering if this kind of cancer runs in families. Could I be at risk for it, too? Are there other things that can raise a woman’s risk for endometrial cancer? Are there any screening tests available for it?

ANSWER: An increased risk for endometrial cancer  can run in families in some cases, but it’s rare. More commonly, this kind of cancer is linked to risk factors such as obesity, age and having other underlying medical conditions. At this time, no screening test is available for endometrial cancer. Researchers are, however, studying a test that could help detect this type of cancer in its earliest stages.

Endometrial cancer begins in the uterus, within the layer of cells that form the uterine lining, called the endometrium. You may sometimes hear endometrial cancer referred to as uterine cancer.

As in your sister’s case, endometrial cancer often is found when it’s still at an early stage. That’s because the most common symptom, abnormal vaginal bleeding , usually prompts a woman to see her doctor. If endometrial cancer is discovered early, surgically removing the uterus typically offers a cure.

Endometrial cancer on its own is not a disease you inherit. However, a genetic disorder known as Lynch syndrome  that is passed down through families has been shown to increase the risk of developing endometrial cancer, as well as other cancers of the colon, stomach, kidney, small intestine, liver and sweat glands. If you’re concerned about a family history of these kinds of cancers, discuss it with your doctor to see if genetic testing might be appropriate.

In most cases, though, factors other than family history play a larger role in raising a person’s risk for endometrial cancer. Some of the most significant include medical conditions that change the balance of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in your body. Examples of such conditions include obesity , polycystic ovary syndrome  and diabetes . Fluctuations in the balance of these hormones cause changes in the endometrium. Having high blood pressure  or high cholesterol  can raise your risk for endometrial cancer, too.

Women who have never been pregnant, those who started menstruation at an early age or who go through menopause  at a later age, and women who have had hormone therapy for the treatment of breast cancer all are at an increased risk for endometrial cancer. Age is a factor, as well. Endometrial cancer most often affects women after they have gone through menopause.

Right now, there isn’t a noninvasive way to check for endometrial cancer. When symptoms appear, a sample of the endometrial tissue has to be surgically removed and examined, or biopsied, to determine whether a woman has endometrial cancer.

But a clinical trial is underway at Mayo Clinic that’s studying the effectiveness of collecting and examining samples of uterine fluid via a tampon for diagnosing endometrial cancer. The study currently has more than 1,000 participants. If the results show promise, it may offer a new, less invasive way to identify this cancer quickly.

If you are worried about endometrial cancer or if you notice any abnormal vaginal bleeding — such as bleeding after menopause, bleeding between periods or unusual blood-tinged discharge — make an appointment to see your doctor to have it evaluated. In most cases, when endometrial cancer is caught early, it is a highly treatable disease.

 Dr. Jamie Bakkum-Gamez , Gynecologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota