What are the Signs of Womb Cancer?

The womb is a pear-shaped muscular organ in a woman’s lower abdomen – the lining is known as the endometrium or the endometrial layer, and this thickens and becomes full of blood vessels each month as the menstrual cycle progress. If an egg is fertilised, it will implant itself in this lining which is where it receives nourishment and develops into a baby. However, if you don’t become pregnant, this lining is shed through your monthly period and your menstrual cycle begins again. Womb cancer develops in this lining or in the wall of your womb – it is the fourth most common form of cancer amongst women in the UK, with around 7,800 women diagnosed each year. It is more common in women over the age of 50. It’s been found that the cancer can often start in your womb and spreads to invade the tissue surrounding the area, or spreads to the bloodstream or lymph system to then infect other areas of the body – this spread of the disease is known as metastasis. There are two types of womb caner – endometrial, which is the most common form and develops in the lining of the womb, and uterine sarcoma, which is less common and begins in the cells in the muscular wall of the womb.

 

The most common symptom of womb cancer is bleeding from your vagina, and this is especially identifiable if you’ve been through the menopause. It’s important to be aware of your monthly cycle and what is normal for you, as otherwise you may not be able to spot the signs of this disease. There are other symptoms which are less common but consist of discharge, pain or swelling in the lower abdomen, pain or discomfort during sex, weight loss, vomiting or feeling sick, fatigue and passing urine more than usual. However, it’s important to remember that these symptoms may be caused by problems other than womb cancer - speak to your GP if you’re concerned and they can advise you if you need to be tested. Some women also get lumps in the inner lining of the womb, which are referred to as endometrial polyps. These are generally benign, but some of them do contain cancer cells – this, again, should be referred to your GP for further information.

 

The reasons why some women develop womb cancer are unclear, but it’s thought that women who have too much oestrogen in their body, in relation to progesterone, could be more at risk. There are other factors which have been associated with developing womb cancer, such as PCOS, endometrial hyperplasia (which is a condition where the lining of your womb becomes thicker), being overweight or obese, being over the age of 50 and having a family history of the condition. The uterine sarcoma form of womb cancer is more common in African-Caribbean women, as well as those who have previously had radiotherapy in the pelvic area. There are a number of treatments for this disease, including surgery, which is the most common form of treatment – this is most commonly a hysterectomy. As with other forms of cancer, there are non-surgical treatments as well, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Being diagnosed with cancer is extremely devastating and can be difficult for you to cope with, as well as hard for your family. There are numerous support options to help you through this difficult stage, from local support groups to specialist nurses who are trained to help you deal with the effects of cancer. In more advanced stages of the disease, hospices and palliative care can be provided to help you and your family cope.

Categories: common form, menstrual cycle, Symptoms, treatment, uterine sarcoma, womb, womb cancer

Vitamin E Supplements Could be Bad for Bone Health

Daily supplements are generally regarded as a good thing, providing people with the vitamins and minerals they may be missing. However, new research suggests a daily supplement of vitamin E puts you at risk of thinning of the bones.

A Japanese study linked a compound in vitamin E to osteoporosis, the degenerative bone condition, where bone thins or breaks down more quickly than it can be replaced. Researchers from Keoi University discovered that taking alpha-tocopherol vitamin E supplements can quickly reduce bone mass.

Lab tests were carried out on rats and mice to reveal that alpha-tocopherol, which is the most common form of vitamin E, kickstarts bone-degrading cells by releasing low levels of “resorption”. Resorption is the process of breaking down and recycling bone minerals to regenerate the bones. Instead of increasing resorption to break the bones down effectively, alpha-tocopherol vitamin E thins the bones instead.

Their laboratory experiments used mice with low levels of vitamin E. Those mice had grown excessively thick bones because their bodies could not break down the old bone through resorption and so new, healthy bones could not be formed.

The team gave the mice doses of alpha-tocpherol vitamin E supplements equivalent to the doses taken by humans and after eight weeks, the mice showed a 20% reduction in bone mass. Mice given the less common form of vitamin E, delta-tocopherol, did not show the same effects.

Vitamin E is known for its powerful antioxidant properties, for its anti-ageing qualities and ability to protect against heart disease, stroke and cancer. However, the evidence of the Japanese study may give some people who take it as a supplement pause for thought, particularly older women most likely to be affected by osteoporosis.

The Japanese study, reported in the journal Nature Medicine, has called for a larger study into the potential effects of vitamin E on bone mass.

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Vitamin E Supplements Could be Bad for Bone Health

Categories: alpha tocopherol, bone, bone mass, bones, common form, japanese study, Supplements, tocopherol vitamin, vitamin, vitamin e