“Endometrial cancer affects 8,800 women per year in France. That’s one in 78 women. And 2,500 die each year, explains Professor Vincent Lavoué, head of the gyneco-obstetrics department at Rennes University Hospital (Ille-et-Vilaine). It remains relatively unknown to the general public even though it is the first gynecological cancer before that of the cervix or ovaries. It more generally concerns older postmenopausal women. But it is also one of the most curable if diagnosed in time. » Hence the awareness campaign which has just been launched by the national college of French gynecologists and obstetricians.
The endometrium is the lining of the uterus which, for example, has a fundamental role in the implantation of the embryo during pregnancy. Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow in the lining. One of the first symptoms, which should prompt you to consult: “Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge that should not occur in postmenopausal women. »
The importance of knowing the symptoms
Cancer can be linked, in a minority of cases, to a predisposition syndrome (Lynch or HNPCC). Other factors: “Obesity, hormonal disorders and the aging of the population. »
Professor Lavoué insists: “After menopause, you should not bleed from the vagina. It is essential to encourage women to listen to their bodies, to recognize the symptoms of this disease, and to consult their doctor or midwife as soon as they have the slightest doubt. »
If the cancer is caught in time, minimally invasive robot-assisted surgery may be an option, or access to new treatments such as targeted therapies (immunotherapy).
