This gynecological cancer may be common – 8,824 new cases per year – and affect the most intimate parts of women, but it remains largely unknown. Every year, 2,500 women die from it in France. In total, this cancer is the fourth most common in women, and its incidence is constantly increasing. The median age at diagnosis is 69 years, with a peak incidence observed between 70 and 74 years.
If, in a minority of cases, this cancer is associated with a predisposition syndrome – Lynch syndrome or HNPCC (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer), the main risk factors are age, and overweight or obesity; each 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI is associated with a 54% increase in cancer risk.
Abnormal vaginal bleeding should alert
Unlike cervical cancer, there is no systematic screening program for endometrial cancer. This cancer can only be suspected when symptoms appear and the main one “is the presence of genital bleeding, even minimal, after menopause, or outside menstrual periods before menopause”, explains Professor Vincent Lavoué, head of the department of gynecology at Rennes University Hospital. This should encourage you to quickly consult a gynecologist for in-depth examinations.” This symptom is characteristic only of the early phase of the disease. When the cancer is more advanced, women may experience lower abdominal pain, severe fatigue, or weight loss.
A cancer that benefits from intense research
Less invasive surgery, molecular signature of the tumor, targeted therapies… the management of endometrial cancer benefits from the latest advances in oncology. Professor Alejandra Martinez, surgeon at IUCT-Oncopôle in Toulouse, underlines the importance of molecular characterization of tumors to target treatments: “this approach takes into account various factors, such as the presence of the P53 protein in 20%. patients, as well as POLE anomaly and other genetic abnormalities. These elements play a key role in determining the prognosis and prospects for recovery. “Depending on the extent of the disease (local or metastatic), treatments can vary from surgery alone to a multidisciplinary approach including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or even immunotherapy for advanced or metastatic cases. »
Less and less invasive, surgery remains the preferred treatment for endometrial cancer. In 60 to 70% of cases where the cancer is localized, surgery alone is enough to cure patients.
Overall, the 5-year cure rates for endometrial cancers are encouraging: we now reach 90% for cancers detected at an early stage and 80% for stage 2 cancers.
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Source: Destination Santé
