Abnormal vaginal bleeding before or after menopause could be a possible indicator of endometrial cancer, a doctor said yesterday following the death of Taipei City Councilor Hsu Chia-pei (許家蓓).
Hsu, who had been diagnosed with endometrial cancer in May and was undergoing treatment, died early yesterday. She was 48.
Asked about the disease, Mackay Memorial Hospital Department of Gynecology attending physician Weng Chia-sui (翁嘉穗) said that endometrial cancer has surpassed ovarian cancer and cervical cancer as the most common gynecological cancer.
Photo: Democratic Progressive Party’s Taipei City council caucus
The rate of diagnosed endometrial cancer has increased nearly fourfold over the past 20 years, Ministry of Health and Welfare data showed.
Women considered at high risk of developing endometrial cancer experience long-term menstruation abnormalities, have previously been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, have a family history of gynecologic cancers, have diabetes or are obese, Weng said.
A common symptom of early-stage endometrial cancer is abnormal bleeding, which can occur at about the age of 50, potentially overlapping with menopause, she said.
Women should visit a gynecologist annually before, during and after menopause, which would help doctors detect endometrial cancer early, she said.
Nevertheless, endometrial cancer is challenging to diagnose, as it presents few symptoms other than metrorrhagia (abnormal bleeding between periods), Weng said.
People with the cancer usually experience pain, weight loss or develop pyometra (a potentially life-threatening uterine infection), which indicates that the cancer has progressed to an advanced stage, she said.
Many women mistakenly believe that a cervical cancer test would detect many types of uterine cancers, but they only detect cervical cancers, she said.
Women older than 50 should undergo annual ultrasounds to help physicians detect the disease early, Weng said.
The Health Promotion Administration urges women to exercise regularly, drink coffee in moderation, and maintain a balanced and healthy diet to reduce their chances of developing endometrial cancer.
The agency also urges women to visit a physician as soon as possible when they feel unwell and to follow prescribed treatments.
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