Could You Be Suffering From Painful Endometriosis?

Surprisingly little is known about endometriosis, even though the condition affects the sexual wellness and wellbeing of around 10 to 15 percent of all reproductive-age women. This condition is non-cancerous but can be very debilitating and painful.

 

Around 5.5 million women in Canada and the US alone are diagnosed with the disease every year. It occurs when cells from the uterine lining (the endometrium) start to grow outside of the uterus, adhering to other internal structures such as the fallopian tubes, bowel, ovaries or bladder. The Endometrial tissue can also move outwith the pelvic cavity and adhere to more distant parts of the body.

 

Nobody is sure what causes the condition but it can vary hugely in severity. Some women experience pain that is so severe that they are unable to lead a normal life, whilst others have no symptoms at all or very mild pain. Other symptoms can include diarrhoea and painful bowel movements, painful intercourse and heavy menstrual bleeding.

 

The most common way to diagnose the problem is with a laparoscope, and this may also be used during the surgical treatment of the condition. The laparoscopy gives the surgeon a chance to look at abnormalities that may be occurring in the pelvic region by inserting a very small telescope through the tummy, usually through the navel. This is the best way of providing a diagnosis, although endometric tissue can still be present even if it is not seen with the laparoscope.

 

During pregnancy, hormonal changes can temporarily stop the condition in its tracks. The absence of menstruation means that the symptoms that are usually associated with the monthly cycle are often absent.

 

Endometriosis cannot be cured, but it can be treated with medicine (such as hormonal contraceptives) or through surgical intervention.

Categories: condition, endometriosis, nbsp, painful, Symptoms, womb

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

Can Leukaemia be Traced Back to The Womb?

A team of scientists have said that they have traced the root genetic cause of the cancer, leukaemia back to the time a baby is in the womb. The Institute of Cancer Research experts looked in detail at the entire three billion letter sequence of DNA-coding in identical twins to try to discover what sets off the disease. The authors hope that the findings, published in PNAS journal, could lead to brand new drugs and treatments that could fight the leukaemia before it has a chance to develop properly.

 

Leukaemia, a highly debilitating condition, is the most common cancer diagnosed in children. It affects a third of young cancer sufferers and kills over 100 children a year in the United Kingdom alone.

 

The twins who were studied in the research had the most common form of leukaemia which affects children, known as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) which is when the cancer grows in the white blood cells.

 

It has been known for a long time that there are multiple faulty genes which are linked to the condition. It is also true that environmental factors can probably act as triggers along the way. But the precise sequence of events leading up to a diagnosis of ALL is unclear, and scientists are looking for a breakthrough in our understanding.

 

The authors of the study wanted to find out more about the disease so that it would be easier for other researchers to find better treatments at some point in the future. Although ALL can often be curable, the medicines and drugs that are used to treat it can cause unpleasant and sometimes severe side effects making the need for an alternative quite pressing.

Can Leukaemia be Traced Back to The Womb?

Categories: cancer, Children, condition, leukaemia, nbsp, origins, womb

How Does Your Pregnancy Weight and Health Impact Your Baby?

The likelihood of your baby’s wellness being affected by obesity and many other health problems might be determined in the womb. This is according to a report published this month by a British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) task force, who said that you should understand that your weight and wellbeing during pregnancy, and before you conceive, plays a crucial part in securing a healthy long-term future for your children.

According to taskforce chairman Professor Tom Sanders, ‘Evidence suggests that poor foetal growth, especially followed by accelerated growth in infancy, may be associated with long-term adverse consequences for health. Poor foetal growth may also affect kidney development, making offspring more sensitive to the blood pressure raising effect of salt and, therefore, increasing their risk of cardiovascular disease.’

The BNF taskforce evaluated aspects of nutrition and early life development, including the impact of your health and eating habits on your baby even before conception. This formed the basis of the report, entitled Nutrition and Development: short and long-term consequences for health. The report takes a closer look at obesity, and notes one of the causes is an increased appetite some people have in adulthood compared with others. The report suggested this cause might have also been programmed in the womb as a result of their mother’s diet and weight.

Sara Stanner, science programme manager at BNF, explained, ‘There is now unequivocal evidence to show the biological link between obesity and weight-related health issues in women and their children. This is a very important message in the fight against obesity…Once a baby is conceived, the biological framework for its future health is already set, so, where possible, women should look to improve their health status before they conceive. A major challenge the UK faces in addressing the obesity epidemic is the fact that around half of all pregnancies in the UK are unplanned.’

Louise Silverton, director for midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), commented, ‘We look forward to this report with great interest…Obesity is without doubt a problem and can have detrimental effects in pregnancy. It is an issue we need to tackle and midwives have a key role to play in helping obese women in their care, to promote better health in their pregnancy and beyond. This is a public health role of the midwife that is often overlooked and under-recognised. We are desperately short of midwives in England and investment is needed in midwifery so that they can carry out this part of their work much more effectively, to the benefit of the public health of the nation.’

Categories: obesity, Research, womb