Uterine Cancer
What Is Uterine Cancer? This is a cancer that starts in the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus, and is often called endometrium cancer. For the purposes of this page, the two terms will be interchanged. Most endometrium cancers are adenocarcinomas or cancers that begin in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids. From my Types of Cancers page, this is a carcinoma. What Is The Uterus, and What Does It Do? This is the womb, a hollow organ, about the size and shape of a medium-size pear. In non-pregnant women it is about 3 inches long. It is part of the female reproductive system where the baby grows when a women is pregnant. The narrow, lower portion of the womb is the cervix, which is part of the birth canal, and opens to the vagina. The womb is in the pelvis between the rectum and bladder. Attached to the top of the womb are the fallopian tubes on either side, and extend outward to the ovaries. What Are The Layers Of The Uterus? The tissue coating of the uterus is the serosa. There other layers are: the outer layer, the myometuium, is muscular and helps push the baby out. Released estrogen, a hormone, causes the inner layer, the endometrium, to shed during a woman’s menstrual cycle and release mucus and other fluids. The menstrual cycle repeats monthly during a woman’s life until menopause, also known as the change of life. What The Risk Factors For Uterine Cancer? The majority of uterine cancers occur between the ages of 60 and 70 years of age. However, cases have occurred at age 40 and younger. Women who have one or more of the following seem to have a higher incidence of this cancer: 1. Those with diabetes
What Diagnostic Tests Are Used To Diagnose Uterine Cancer? A pelvic exam to check the vagina, uterus, bladder, and rectum is usually the first test done. The doctor will feel for any change in the size and shape of these organs, also for the presence for any lumps. A pap test will collect cells from the cervix and upper vagina for the lab to check for any cancerous cells. Other test may include a transvaginal ultrasound and a biopsy to remove a tissue sample from the uterine lining. In the year of 2009, it is estimated there will be over 42,000 new cases of endometrial cancer, and almost 8,000 deaths. What Are The Stages Of Uterine Cancer? The process used to determine if the cancer has spread within the uterus or beyond to other organs and tissues is called staging. The following stages are used for endometrial cancer: Stage 1, 2, 3, and 4. In stage 1, the cancer is found in the uterus only. Stage 2 means the cancer has spread to the cervix, but not beyond. In stage 3, the cancer has spread from the uterus and cervix, to the vagina and neighboring lymph nodes, but not beyond Stage 4 endometrial cancer means the cancer has spread beyond the pelvis to other organs such as the bladder and/or bowel wall. Other areas like the lymph nodes, abdomen and the groin may be involved in stage 4. What Are The Traditional Treatments For Endometrial Cancer? Traditional treatments may include surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. Surgery may include total hysterectomy: surgical removal of the uterus and cervix, either through the vagina or by incision in the abdomen. Surgery is the widest used treatment. Radiation is often used after a hysterectomy to kill any remaining cancer after surgery. This procedure is called adjuvant therapy. This is done either internal or external. Internal uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters. External is by machine using high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation. Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals, usually injected in a major vein. These chemicals injure cell DNA to the extent where cells cannot grow and reproduce. This procedure includes all cells in the body, both good healthy cells and cancerous cells. Chemotherapy is very harmful to the body’s immune system resulting in the cancer victim not having the ability to fight off common infections. Names of these chemicals are doxorubicin, methotrexate, and paclitaxel. (Wouldn’t you like to see a label of what is in these drugs, similar to a label on our foods? Shouldn’t we be alarmed with anything starting with: meth?) Why Chemotherapy Drugs Are Some Of The Most Expensive Of All Drugs: Recall from one of my previous pages: it is estimated cancer treatments cost between $300,000 to $500,000 per year to treat? I have even seen estimates as high as $700,000 to $900,000 per year to treat cancer. Chemo drugs are some of pharmaceutical companies’ most profitable. When you think of how many people get cancer each year and get chemo treatments, it's easy to see where a huge chunk of our country's wealth is going. Alternative treatments are on the rise because women want to rid themselves of Uterine Cancer while also keeping their female organs. Additionally, the cost is nowhere near the costs of traditional treatments.
Alternative Cancer Treatments That Work!
When I was diagnosed in January 2007, my doctor gave me as short as 3-months to live and rated my cancer somewhere between stage 3 or 4. Without checking any alternatives, I started chemotherapy at my health care provider’s oncology department. I was scheduled for 6-rounds of chemotherapy; each round was a double-bag. During my second infusion, I experienced a deathly reaction to the chemicals and almost died in the treatment chair. That near-death experience was the catalyst that sent me in search of Alternative Cancer Treatments. After weeks of searching, I found a wonderful clinic which was recommended in one of Kevin Trudeau’s books. I devoured the website information and read all the survivor’s testimonials. Then, my husband and I discussed and prayed about the possibilities of me going to the clinic. It was a big decision to go; it shouldn’t have been, but it was. I had butterflies like I have never had them before. Then, together my husband and I made the decision for me to go to the clinic. The treatments were for two-weeks; now they do three-weeks for less money than I paid for my two-weeks. I regained my energy and smile back almost instantly after the treatments began. After returning home, I made an appointment with oncology. He ordered another PET-scan because he couldn’t detect any cancer remaining when he physically examined me. I held my breath for about a week until the results came back…Cancer-Free!! That was three-years ago. I have full faith that you can become the next cancer survivor by going to the clinic. Take your opportunity now and have a FREE CONFIDENTIAL MEDICAL EVALUATION, to discover if you are a good candidate for Alternative Cancer Treatments. Get the clinic name by going to my
Cancer Survivor
page and use the “Clinic Name Request Form” You’ll be so happy you did!!
Peggy Sue Roberts
Forward to Prevention page.
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