A Cancer Doctor Shares 4 Easy-to-Miss Signs of Endometrial Cancer You Should Know
- Endometrial cancer can have varied symptoms which may be misdiagnosed as other illnesses.
- Digestive issues, bloating, and abnormal pelvic pain or bleeding are all reason to seek medical care.
- People with risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure should be especially aware of symptoms.
Endometrial cancer, which affects the lining of the uterus, is the most common cancer of female reproductive organs, with more than 65,000 cases diagnosed in the US every year, according to the American Cancer Society.
Also called uterine cancer, it can be tricky to spot early on, according to Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, head of breast medical oncology at Valley Health System and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai.
"A lot of times symptoms are vague and can be attributed to other things because people's minds don't jump to cancer right away," Teplinsky told Insider.
As a result, she often sees patients who are misdiagnosed or wait too long to seek care. Symptoms can vary, and anything that feels "off" for a prolonged period of time is reason to talk with a doctor, she said.
