The womb is the organ where a baby develops when a woman is pregnant. It is a muscular organ with a lining called the endometrial. It is important for women to take a very good care of their wombs since they are vulnerable to womb cancers. There are several types of cancers which occur within the womb.
 Dr Gamini Perera |
Cervical cancer
According to Dr Perera, cervical cancer is the commonest, which is often seen among women and it occurs in the neck of the womb. Cervical cancer starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus (womb) that opens at the top of the vagina. Middle-aged women (40-50) are mostly worried about this. It stems out of a virus. It can easily be detected during a pre-cancer stage by doing a Pap smear test which is painless at a medical clinic. It is safe, if detected during the pre-cancer stages.Vaccination is available for this cancer and it should be done during the small ages to prevent from it. Dr Perera noted there are symptoms to identify the cancer. Main symptoms are abnormal bleeding, unusual heavy discharge which could be foul smelling, watery or thick, post-coital bleeding and bleeding in between regular menstrual periods.
If these symptoms are visible, there is a great possibility of a cervical cancer.
“Treatments are available for this cancer. In the pre-cancer stages, the local excision or burning can be done. When it is cancer, extensive surgery to remove a lot of parts of the womb and radiotherapy can be done. Radiotherapy is a treatment to destroy cancer cells with radiation. It can be given externally or internally. But the surgery is effective only in early stages. In the late stages it can be treated only with radio therapy. Cervical cancer associates with early sex and multiple partners,” Dr Perera stated.
Ovarian cancer
Many types of ovarian cancers exist. This can be occurred in very young age, middle age or in old age. So there is no specific age to do tests. This is the dangerous cancer that occurs in the womb since there are no specific symptoms to discover it. Sometimes the patient does not know anything till it gets worst.It is a risky situation as it is diagnosed late. Abnormal pain and distension may occur. Diagnosis can be done by tests. Lump test and scan test will help diagnose the cancer. This can be occurred due to genetic causes. Family planning pills help reduce the possibility of an ovarian cancer.
 Cervical cancer |
Endometrial cancer
“Endometrial cancer is the third commonest cancer which occurs within the womb. Endometrial cancer starts in the endometrial, the lining of the uterus (womb). Endometrial is the Inner lining of the womb. This also called cancer in the body of the womb. It commonly occurs in old age. Main symptom is bleeding after menopause. If bleeding starts more than one year later to the menopause, probably it can be an endometrial cancer,” Dr Perera emphasised.As Dr Perera added, the first treatment is removal of womb by a surgery. Radio therapy can also be done. Women who possess an excessive estrogen exposure, who are fat and whose menstruation occur with long intervals, are susceptible to this.
Apart from these common cancers there are some other cancers which rarely occur within womb. Some of them are vulva cancer, vaginal cancer, fallopian tube cancer, hydatidiform mole. These cancers are rarely seen among women.
To prevent from cancers, women should be aware of the cancers and the tests that they can take. Once they take tests, they are safe and can be prevented from cancers related to womb.
