The pear-shaped organic structure that is situated in a woman's pelvis is the uterus, or the womb. Uterine cancer can develop in the tissue that lines the uterus, also known as the endometrium. The Merck Manual states that cancer in a woman's endometrium is the most frequently occurring gynecologic cancer. It affects almost 1 in 50 women. It has been shown that women who suffer from obesity related illnesses, including diabetes and high blood pressure, are at a higher risk of developing this type of cancer. Uterine cancer usually develops after a woman enters menopause. As with most cancers, the degree to which it can be treated successfully is dependent on how early the cancer is diagnosed, so it is important for a woman to keep her eyes open for potential warning signs.
Pain
For many women, one of the first indicators of uterine cancer is pain in the pelvic area. The pain can be in any part of that region, whether it be a dull pain or sharp cramps in the lower abs or closer to the pelvis. The Mayo Clinic also indicates that this pain can manifest itself during sexual intercourse.
Vaginal Discharge
Another common symptom of the early stages of uterine cancer is abnormal vaginal discharge. This vaginal discharge can be either clear or white and is usually a thin substance. It can last between a few weeks or even months before vaginal bleeding. Once the bleeding occurs, the thin substance mixes with blood as it is excreted. Because it is not abnormal for a pre-menopausal woman to experience vaginal discharge, this is really only a warning sign that needs to be mentioned to a doctor if the woman notices an increase in occurrence or amount discharged.
Abnormal Bleeding
Abnormal bleeding is one of the earliest and most common warning signs of potential uterine cancer. Although it is mostly dependent on an individual woman's menstrual cycle, when a woman experiences bleeding after she has reached menopause, it can be interpreted as an early warning sign of uterine cancer. The Merck Manual says that of all the women who report postmenopausal bleeding, almost one in three is shown to actually have uterine cancer. Another indicator that a woman who has not yet reached menopause might have uterine cancer is bleeding between menstrual cycles when she usually does not experience such a phenomenon. The Centers for Disease Control also says that a women who has not yet reached menopause will sometimes have very heavy bleeding during their menstrual periods or the bleeding may last for longer than a week. If this occurs, the woman should consult her doctor to see if there is a problem.
