MK News – Why have patients with endometrial cancer increased by 50% in the last five years?

Recent changes in Westernized eating habits have led to a rapid increase in patients with endometrial cancer, a typical advanced gynecological tumor.

The number of patients treated with endometrial cancer has increased by about 50%, from 11,629 in 2013 to 17,421 in 2017, according to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Although the number of patients treated increased at all ages, the number of patients in their twenties rose from 152 to 317 in 108% of cases and from 935 to 1,497 in 30 years, a 60% increase indicating that young women are free from endometrial cancer. Give

Professor Choi Min-cheol of the Cancer Center of General Hospital of Bundang CHA said, "The number of patients with endometrial cancer is increasing because of the recent lifestyle, obesity, diabetes and late menopause. 85% or more survive for more than 5 years, so the cure rate is high, so it's best to handle routine self-management, such as a good exercise and a regular lifestyle, with periodic screening. "

The endometrium is the innermost side of the uterus, which means the thin film that the fetus will conceive during pregnancy. It is thickened and cleared once a month because of the hormonal effect, and menstruation occurs when the endometrial tissue falls during menstruation. Endometrial cancer is a disease in which abnormal cancer cells develop in the endometrium. Although the cause of endometrial cancer is not clearly understood, it is considered the cause of the abnormally exposed female hormone called estrogen. If estrogen accumulates excessively in the body, the proliferation of endometrial cells will be favored, and the likelihood of mutant cancer cells will increase.

Professor Choi Min-cheol said, "When menarche is fast, menopause is late, amenorrhea is prolonged, there is no experience of childbirth , obesity and long-term administration of drugs that may affect female hormones, it is better to seek a doctor, undergo a checkup and receive ultrasound. "

In addition, family history of endometrial cancer, colorectal cancer, etc. in the patient's family are most likely related to hereditary carcinoma (Lynch syndrome, etc.). When hereditary carcinoma is identified, careful monitoring such as routine examination, biopsy, and prophylactic surgery should be considered.

Approximately 90% of patients with endometrial cancer suffer from abnormal menstrual bleeding, such as abnormal menstrual bleeding before menopause or menstruation before menopause. In addition, rarely, when the endometrial cancer is metastasized to the uterus or other organs, symptoms such as pelvic tenderness, lower urinary tract, hematuria, urinary frequency, constipation, rectal bleeding and back pain may be present

. Endometrial curettage or submucosal cervical biopsy is used to determine the presence or absence of endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer treatment is recommended as a surgical procedure to remove the uterus and ovaries and tubal ovaries.The chemotherapy is administered according to the risk factors after the surgery, depending on the degree of radiotherapy or stadium.

Professor Choi Min-Chul said: "Endometrial cancer can only be cured by surgical treatment at the time of initial detection, but if endometrial cancer develops early and is presumed confined to the endometrium, "Hormone therapy is sometimes used to preserve the uterus rather than surgical treatment." Recently, immunotherapy has become a popular alternative for advanced or recurrent cancer of the endometrium. "

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