Health Alert: Dora Akunyili

By Kelechi Anozia

Nigeria lost a colossus in the form of Dora Akunyili, until now the cause of her death was widely speculated to be a form of cancer though specifics were not known. It has now been revealed by Sahara Reporters, that the former director general of the NAFDAC died from complications of uterine cancer. What is uterine cancer? Uterine cancer, also known as endometrial cancer, is a form of cancer that affects the womb. There are different types of uterine cancer, the most common being the type that affects the cells in the lining of the womb, the endometrium. Most women diagnosed with uterine cancer have been through the menopause, although it can affect women of any age. There are 4 stages of uterine cancer, the earliest being stage 1 where the cancer is just in the womb, stage 2 when the cancer has spread to the cervix, stage 3 when it has spread outside the womb, to the pelvis and the most severe, stage 4 when the cancer has spread to other organs, Symptoms The most common symptom is abnormal vaginal bleeding. For women that haven’t been through menopause, abnormal bleeding may be periods that are very heavy or bleeding in between periods. Other symptoms include:

trouble urinating
pain in the pelvis
pain during sex

If you have abnormal vaginal bleeding it is best to see your doctor straight away to determine the cause, even if it is not uterine cancer, it may be a symptom of other health conditions such as fibroids or cervical cancer. Causes The causes of uterine cancer are unknown, but there are some risk factors:

age, women over 50 are more likely to develop uterine cancer
exposure to oestrogen
being overweight or obese
being diabetic

Diagnosis Uterine cancer is usually diagnosed by a biopsy, where a doctor removes a small sample of the uterus lining to look for cancer cells. Other diagnostic tests include:

a blood test
transvaginal ultrasound, which is placed into the vagina to look for chances.

Treatment Treatment options vary and are to be decided upon by a doctor, factors must be taken into consideration include: your overall heath and how advanced the cancer. Treatment options include:

a hysterectomy ( removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries)
hormone therapy
radiotherapy
chemotherapy

Prevention It is not possible to prevent womb cancer but to reduce the risk of developing it, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Image Source: www.123tagged.com

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