Endometriosis and Cancer: What's the Risk?

Endometriosis is a condition which can be very challenging to cope with. One of the many things that women with endometriosis often wonder about is whether or not it increases their risk of cancer. Since the condition affects the endometrial tissue, it only makes sense that it would also increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Here are some of the things that you should know about endometriosis and how it affects your risk of cancer.

Endometriosis and Endometrial Cancer

There is not believed to be any major correlation between endometriosis and endometrial cancer. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, it occurs in less than one percent of people with endometrial cancer. When endometrial cancer does occur in women who have endometriosis, it is when the case is very severe. The relationship between endometriosis and endometrial cancer is much less significant than many assume. Symptoms of endometrial cancer (also called uterine cancer) include painful urination, pelvic pain, a pelvic lump, and weight loss.

Endometriosis and Ovarian Cancer

Women with endometriosis are more than forty percent likely to develop ovarian cancer than other women. The highest risk of ovarian cancer was when endometriosis was located on the ovary. This is why it so important for women with endometriosis to know the signs of ovarian cancer so that it can be detected early enough to be cured. Frequency of urination, bloating, and pelvic or abdominal pain are all some of the signs of ovarian cancer that you should be aware of.

Endometriosis and Cervical Cancer

What many people do not know is that endometriosis actually lowers your risk of developing cervical cancer. There is no reason given as to why endometriosis may lower a woman's risk of cervical cancer. Since cervical cancer is caused by HPV, which is sexually transmitted, there is a chance that women with endometriosis may have a lower number of overall sex partners due to the discomfort that they experience during sexual intercourse. However, the research available on endometriosis and cervical cancer is only minimal.

Endometriosis and Breast Cancer

The impact that endometriosis has on breast cancer is somewhat complicated. When the endometriosis is diagnosed before the woman is forty years old, her risk of developing breast cancer is lower. However, if the endometriosis is diagnosed between forty and fifty or around the time of menopause, the woman is ten to fifteen percent more likely to develop breast cancer. It is important to get regular mammograms and do regular self breast exams if you have endometriosis, especially if you were diagnosed later in life and have a family history of breast cancer.

Endometriosis and Other Types of Cancer

It is important to know that women with endometriosis are also more likely to develop a few other types of cancer. These cancers include non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, pituitary glands, and thyroid glands. Being aware of this information and making your doctor aware that you know endometriosis can increase your risk of developing various forms of cancer will help with early detection.

If you have endometriosis, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with it. The best thing that you can do is familiarize yourself with all of the symptoms of these types of cancer. Getting yearly overall checkups and making any doctor that you see aware of the fact that you have endometriosis is the best things that anyone with the condition can do in order to prevent cancer.

http://www.idph.state.il.us/cancer/factsheets/endo.htm

http://www.healthywomen.org/content/ask-expert/1760/endometriosis-and-cancer-risk?context=womentalk/ask-the-expert&context_title=ask-the-expert