Uterine cancer is one of the five most common cancers that women are diagnosed with, and it’s one of the cancers that carry the harshest prognosis.
Cancer Research UK estimates that more than 319, 000 women were reported to have been diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2012 around the globe – and that statistics excludes cases of women who never got to a doctor in time to be diagnosed.
If you suspect that you might be suffering from uterine cancer, your first step is to take a closer look and document your symptoms as they happen. For some, it helps to keep a notebook of their symptoms over time – this is useful for their doctor when diagnosing what could be wrong.
Your next step is to take your combined list of symptoms and visit a doctor: Cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence – but you have to spot symptoms early.
1. Vaginal Bleeding
Bleeding for a few days every month is normal for every woman – and we could even say that a few variations in your menstrual cycle can be considered completely normal if you have recently undergone drastic life changes or stresses that could cause it.
But any form of vaginal bleeding – or lack thereof – that persists for a long time should give you reason to visit your doctor. It could be nothing, or it could be a sign of an underlying condition such as endometriosis, which can lead to uterine cancer and infertility if it’s left untreated.
If you experience any vaginal bleeding that’s outside of your normal cycle, then you have good reason to be concerned – at best, you’ll have to make a couple of lifestyle changes in order to improve your health for the long haul, and at worst you’ll have a chance to treat what’s wrong with you before it gets any worse.