Endometrial Cancer (cont.)

Prevention

The best way to avoid endometrial carcinoma is to avoid the risk factors. To avoid risk factors, a woman should take the following steps:

• Maintain a healthy weight by eating a moderate, nutrition-rich diet and exercising regularly.
  
  
• Consider taking birth control pills if warranted by her situation and medical condition.
  
  
• Avoid treatment with unopposed estrogens.

Some risk factors cannot be avoided. For example, neither a previous cancer of the breast, colon, or ovaries nor a family history of these cancers can be avoided. Early puberty and late menopause are part of a person's genetic makeup and cannot be changed. 

Being vigilant to catch endometrial and other genital cancers early is something that can be controlled. A woman should not be afraid or ashamed to go to her health care provider about abnormal bleeding or other unusual symptoms involving her genital tract. Putting off seeing a health care provider prevents early diagnosis and treatment that, in turn, could prevent serious complications or even death.

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