Sponsored by Woman’s Hospital
Endometrial cancer doesn’t often make headlines. Many women are familiar with breast, ovarian or cervical cancer, but far fewer have heard much about cancer of the uterine lining, known as endometrial cancer. That lack of awareness is exactly what Gabrielle M. Hawkins, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at Woman’s Hospital, wants to change.
“Endometrial cancer is actually the most common cancer that we treat,” Dr. Hawkins explains. “You don’t hear as much about it as ovarian or cervical cancer, but it is the No. 5 cause of cancer-related deaths in women.”
Know the symptoms
One of the clearest warning signs is also one of the most often ignored: bleeding after menopause.
“When your period goes away, it does not come back,” says Dr. Hawkins. “Any bleeding after menopause is abnormal and needs to be evaluated.”
For women who have not yet gone through menopause, abnormal bleeding (very irregular periods, very heavy bleeding or long gaps without periods) should also prompt a visit to a provider.
In addition to bleeding, Dr. Hawkins urges women to pay attention to persistent:
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Feeling full quickly when eating
If these symptoms continue for more than about two weeks, it’s time to get them checked.
Certain women face a higher risk, including older women and those who are overweight or obese. But Dr. Hawkins notes that she is increasingly seeing younger patients with endometrial cancer as well, which makes awareness even more critical.
How endometrial cancer is diagnosed and treated
Endometrial cancer is usually diagnosed with an endometrial biopsy, a procedure that samples the lining of the uterus. This can often be done in the office; in other cases, it’s performed in the operating room.
The good news: because abnormal bleeding often appears early, many women are diagnosed at an early stage. About 70% of patients can be treated with surgery alone, which typically includes removing the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries and sampling lymph nodes. Depending on the stage, some women may also need radiation or chemotherapy.
A less invasive future for diagnosis
At Woman’s Hospital, Dr. Hawkins and her team are participating in a research study that could make the diagnostic process less invasive and more comfortable.
An independent company is testing whether a vaginal swab can detect endometrial cancers and precancers. Patients who already have a diagnosis and choose to participate provide samples that will help validate the test.
“We don’t have a screening test for endometrial cancer,” Dr. Hawkins says. “If this swab is validated, it could help us identify who needs further tissue sampling and who may not, and it could make that first step much less invasive and frightening for patients.”
Beyond comfort, she believes a less invasive test could lower barriers to care for women who are afraid of biopsies, anesthesia or the idea that a biopsy might “spread” cancer – a myth she hears frequently.
The takeaway: Don’t ignore abnormal bleeding
For Dr. Hawkins, the most important message is simple and urgent: do not ignore abnormal bleeding.
“Postmenopausal bleeding is never normal,” she emphasizes. “Abnormal bleeding at any age needs to be evaluated. And if your concerns are dismissed, don’t stop until you find a provider who takes your symptoms seriously.”
She also encourages women, especially as they get older, to keep their annual gynecologic visits, even if they’ve been told they no longer need Pap tests. Those appointments are an opportunity to talk about symptoms that might seem easy to brush off but could save a life.
