淺談子宮內膜癌

Overview of Endometrial Cancer

子宮內膜癌是常見的婦科癌症，也是台灣女性十大癌症的第六位。危險因子包含：肥胖、長期使用雌激素製劑、糖尿病、高血壓、沒有生育、初經較早、停經較晚、與使用諾瓦得士錠（tamoxifen）。不正常的子宮出血是最主要的徵象，而大多數的子宮內膜癌婦女被診斷為疾病早期。手術治療是早期患者最主要的醫療處置，幸運的是，子宮內膜癌死亡率相對低，且五年存活率達81%。癌症治療後常伴隨合併症產生，如：不孕、手術性停經、下肢水腫、性功能障礙、焦慮與疲憊的現象，而這些合併常會影響婦女的生活品質。生活型態的改變，如：增加身體活動度及蔬果類食物的攝取，可以協助減緩合併症的症狀產生，並提升子宮內膜癌婦女的生活品質。

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer and the sixth most common cancer among women in Taiwan. Risk factors for endometrial cancer include obesity, long-term estrogen replacement therapy, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, nulliparty, early age at menarche, late age at menopause, and tamoxifen therapy. Most women with endometrial cancer exhibit abnormal uterine bleeding. Endometrial cancer is often diagnosed at stage I. Surgery alone is the primary treatment for stage I endometrial cancer. Fortunately, mortality rates for endometrial cancer are relatively low, with a 5-year survival rate of 81% among women who are diagnosed with endometrial cancer in Taiwan. However, the common side effects of treatment, including infertility, surgical menopause, lymphedema of the lower extremities, sexual dysfunction, distress, and fatigue, impact significantly on the quality of life of patients. Lifestyle changes such as keeping physically active and eating a diet that is high in fruit and vegetables may alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life in women who have undergone treatment for endometrial cancer.