Do you see red? I’m not talking anger here—I’m talking about blood. If you
begin to have minor bleeding after not having had your period for several
months, don’t take any chances; go see your doctor immediately. Abnormal
bleeding is always a cause for concern, and may be a signal that something else
may be wrong, including:
Your doctor may wish to give you a pelvic exam, ultrasound exam, or possibly
even a biopsy to determine if it is endometrial (uterine) cancer, cervical
cancer or pre-endometrial cancer (called hyperplasia).
Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer attacks the lining of the uterus. For cancer attacking
female reproductive organs, this type of cancer is the most common. Current
estimates are that about 40 000 cases are diagnosed in the United
States each year, with roughly one-tenth of
those cases resulting in death. That’s the bad news. The good news is 90%
survive, due to aggressive treatment. The other good news is that often, what
is believed at first to be cancer is often uterine tumors, known as fibroids. If
these cause bleeding or pain, they may be removed; otherwise, they are no cause
for concern.
Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer originates in the cervix, near the part of the uterus that
opens to the vagina. Before the Pap smear test of the 1950s, this cancer was
the leading cause of death for women with cancer. Only roughly 11 000 women in
the United States get this form of cancer each year, but roughly a third still
die from it. Obviously, early detection is important.
Hyperplasia
Hyperplasia is not a cancer in and of itself, but those who develop it have
a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer in the future. Basically,
it’s an increase in the size and number of normal cells within part of the
breast. If a follow-up program is recommended, then by all means follow it.
Often, though, hyperplasia is not harmful in any way, and may be ignored. Your
doctor is the expert.