If you have recently learned that you have endometrial cancer but that it was diagnosed late due to your healthcare provider ignoring warning signs, you may wonder about your medical and legal options. Your focus should be on your health. Meanwhile, the experienced legal team at Powers & Santola, LLP can protect your legal rights. Contact us today for a free case review.
What Is Endometrial Cancer?
Endometrial cancer is a type of uterine cancer. The uterus is responsible for carrying a pregnancy to term and consists of two major layers: the inner lining (the endometrium) and an outer muscle layer (the myometrium). It forms in the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus.
In the United States, endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in women and the most common gynecological malignancy.
Endometrial cancer is divided into two types. Type 1 is the most common and is referred to as endometrioid adenocarcinoma. This form of cancer begins in glandular tissue, has the best prognosis, and accounts for about 90% of endometrial cancers. Type 2 endometrial cancer is the most aggressive form of the cancer and includes serious carcinomas and clear cell carcinomas.
Endometrial cancer is particularly dangerous when abnormal cell growth spreads and invades other parts of the body.
While endometrial cancer is most common in women over 50 years of age who have gone through menopause, younger females, transgender males, and intersex individuals can also develop this serious form of cancer.
Post-Menopausal Bleeding: The Most Common Early Warning Sign of Endometrial Cancer
The most common early warning sign of endometrial cancer is vaginal bleeding after menopause. Any post-menopausal bleeding is a potential warning sign of endometrial cancer, even if there is just one instance of bleeding. People should not have bleeding after going through menopause.
Other Early Warning Signs of Endometrial Cancer
Vaginal bleeding can also be a warning sign of endometrial cancer for women who have not completed the menopause transition. Any change in bleeding patterns could indicate endometrial cancer, including bleeding between periods, heavier periods, or constant bleeding.
Other endometrial cancer symptoms include the following:
- Watery or blood-tinged vaginal discharge
- Unpleasant smell
- Difficulty urinating
- A change in bowel habits
- Pain during sexual activity
- Abdominal pain
- Pelvic pain or discomfort
- Unexplained weight loss
While some of these symptoms can indicate other medical conditions, it is important to seek medical attention immediately if you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms to ensure you don’t have such a serious condition, such as endometrial cancer.
Risk Factors for Endometrial Cancer
The cause of endometrial cancer is mostly unknown, but certain risk factors correlate to a higher likelihood of developing this disease, such as:
- Hormone use: Many older women take hormones to reduce symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes or vaginal dryness, but this can come at a risk. Taking estrogen hormone therapy without progesterone is a noted risk factor for developing endometrial cancer, especially when this therapy is for an extended period of time.
- Age: Endometrial cancer is more common in older women, with the average age of diagnosis hovering around 60. The risk of this cancer increases with age. However, there has been an uptick in endometrial cancer diagnoses for younger women, so women of all ages should not dismiss symptoms.
- Obesity: Being obese or overweight is a major risk factor for this type of cancer. This is because more fat tissue increases estrogen levels, which, in turn, increases the risk of developing endometrial cancer.
- Diet: Even if a patient is not overweight, if they eat a diet high in animal fat, they may have an increased risk for endometrial cancer.
- Menstruation history: Having more periods can correspond to developing endometrial cancer. Women who began their period before the age of 12 or completed menopause after the age of 55 are at an increased risk for endometrial cancer.
- Family history: If someone else in your family had endometrial cancer or colon cancer, you may be at an increased risk of developing endometrial cancer.
- Cancer history: Having a prior history of cancer can increase your likelihood of developing various forms of cancer, including endometrial cancer. Having hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, a tumor in the ovaries, breast cancer, colon cancer, or ovarian cancer is associated with a higher risk of developing endometrial cancer.
- Prior radiation therapy: One reason why a cancer history corresponds to an increased risk of breast cancer is that patients may have undergone radiation therapy. Radiation can damage cells’ DNA, increasing the risk of sarcoma development.
- Lack of pregnancy: Women who have never been pregnant are more likely to develop endometrial cancer than those who have.
- Certain medication use: Women who have taken the drug tamoxifen (usually for breast cancer) are at an increased risk of developing endometrial cancer.
- Certain medical conditions: Having certain medical conditions – even when they are not cancer – corresponds with a higher likelihood of developing endometrial cancer. For example, having Type 2 diabetes can increase a person’s risk for this cancer, as can having high blood pressure. Having polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) causes higher estrogen levels and lower levels of progesterone, which increases the risk of the development of endometrial cancer. Having endometrial hyperplasia is an increased growth of the endometrium, which can cause the uterus to thicken and endometrial cancer to develop.
How Dismissing Postmenopausal Bleeding as Normal Aging Can Have Devastating Consequences
Since post-menopausal bleeding is a recognized warning sign of endometrial cancer, healthcare providers mustn’t dismiss this sign as normal aging. Ignoring this critical warning sign can delay diagnosis and treatment.
Dismissing postmenopausal bleeding or other warning signs can have devastating consequences. Endometrial cancer is divided into four types, and as the cancer spreads, the prognosis drastically decreases. The stages of endometrial cancer include the following:
- Stage I: Stage I endometrial cancer is only in the uterus; it has not spread to other parts of the body.
- Stage II: Endometrial cancer in stage II has spread to the cervix.
- Stage III: Endometrial cancer in stage III has spread into the ovaries, vagina, fallopian tubes, or lymph nodes of the abdomen or pelvis.
- Stage IV: Endometrial cancer is considered to be in stage IV if it has spread to the urinary bladder, bowel, rectum, lymph nodes of the groin, lungs, abdomen, or bones.
Failing to diagnose endometrial cancer promptly can result in fatalities. Even when the disease is not deadly, a delayed diagnosis can mean a more aggressive form of treatment is necessary, which can cause various harmful side effects.
Complications of Endometrial Cancer
For women who have not gone through menopause, the disease or treatment can result in bringing on menopause suddenly. Women who have already gone through menopause may experience a return of some symptoms.
A painful consequence of endometrial cancer for some patients is infertility. It may be necessary to have radiation or remove the uterus to protect the patient, which can ruin their chances of a natural pregnancy. This is particularly tragic for younger women who are diagnosed in their early 20s.
Other complications associated with endometrial cancer and common types of treatment include the following:
- Bowel and bladder changes
- Vaginal vault prolapse
- Sexual changes
- Lymphoedema
- Fatigue
Medical Treatment for Endometrial Cancer
The potential treatments that you receive for endometrial cancer will depend on various factors, including the stage of the cancer, your preferences, and your medical history.
Some of the most common forms of treatment for endometrial cancer include the following:
Surgery
For many patients, surgery is the only treatment they need, but this is usually only the case when the cancer is caught early. The type of surgery you have will depend on how far the cancer has spread and your desire, if any, to retain fertility.
A total hysterectomy removes your uterus, cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. The surgeon may remove lymph nodes that are near the affected area(s) to check for cancer. A hysterectomy ends menstrual periods and the possibility of getting pregnant.
A bilateral salpingectomy is the removal of both fallopian tubes. A bilateral ovariectomy is the removal of both ovaries. When a woman’s ovaries are removed before she has gone through menopause, menopause occurs at once, and the symptoms may be more severe than usual.
Surgery may have risks, such as:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Organ injury
- Fatigue
- Scarring
- Numbness
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy uses X-ray beams to kill or damage cancerous cells. Medical providers may use radiotherapy to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. Radiation therapy helps ensure that cancer cells don’t grow, spread, or multiply while also limiting damage to your healthy organs.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medicines that are administered intravenously to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells, while also attempting to limit the damage to healthy cells. Chemotherapy may be used when the cancer has spread from the uterus.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy uses drugs that block hormones that cause cancer growth. Some cancers are sensitive to hormones. For endometrial cancer, using progesterone may help. Hormone therapy may sometimes be recommended if surgery has not been completed or if you are trying to preserve fertility.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy uses the body’s natural defenses to identify, attack, and kill cancer cells. It may be used in combination with targeted therapy or as an alternative after other treatments have been attempted.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy attempts to attack cancer cells more precisely. Targeted therapy drugs target changes in genes or proteins of cancer cells that spur growth, division, and spreading.
Clinical Trials
Cancer research continues to expand every year. Clinical trials are research studies that test new treatment options or methods of using current treatments
Financial Compensation You Can Seek for a Delayed Diagnosis of Cancer
A delayed diagnosis of cancer can result in significant financial and emotional harm. Through a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek compensation for the following:
Medical Bills
Diagnostic tests, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and other medical treatments can be expensive. Through your medical malpractice claim, you can demand compensation for the additional medical bills that you incurred due to the delay that necessitated more aggressive forms of treatment.
Ongoing Medical Treatment
You may require several rounds of treatment or reconstructive surgery. You may also need to take expensive prescription medications. You can seek compensation for these ongoing medical care needs.
Future Medical Expenses
If you need surgery in the future, or will need to visit a doctor periodically to determine if the cancer has returned.
Lost Wages
You have the right to recover compensation for the time and money you lost by not being able to work while you were seeking medical treatment or recovering.
Reduced Earning Capacity
If your condition progressed to the point where it affected your long-term earning capacity, you can seek compensation for the reduction.
Pain and Suffering
Cancer and the treatments to fight it can cause significant physical pain and suffering.
You have the right to be compensated for these and other non-economic damages you suffered due to the delayed diagnosis.
Emotional Anguish
Contemplating the end of your life can be emotionally devastating. You deserve for your mental distress and emotional anguish to be properly acknowledged in your personal injury claim.
Reduced Quality of Life
Side effects of delayed treatment can include sleep problems, chronic pain, hot flashes, changes in menstrual cycles, infertility, and more. These negative consequences can seriously disrupt your life and your enjoyment of it. You have the right to pursue compensation for these real-world effects of a delayed diagnosis.
Contact Our Medical Malpractice Attorneys Today
If your doctor dismissed your postmenopausal bleeding as normal aging, allowing your endometrial cancer to spread, you may have a viable medical malpractice case against your healthcare provider. The dedicated and experienced legal team at Powers & Santola, LLP wants to help. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
