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preventable risk factors, including eating
salty food and smoked meats.
When doctors are relatively sure that additional screening will improve the outcome,
they might recommend an upper endoscopy,
says Bryan McIver, MD, PhD, a cancer specialist and founding member of the World
Congress on Thyroid Cancer. During this
screening, a physician passes a small, lighted
video camera called an endoscope down the
throat to check for abnormalities.

PHOTO AND ICONS BY GETTY IMAGES

Endometrial Cancer:
Deciphering the Disease

Endometrial cancer tends to grow slowly but
can be difficult to find because pelvic examinations will have normal results until the
disease is more advanced. And the diagnosis
often requires removing a small amount of
tissue from the inner lining of the uterus,
called the endometrium, which is not done
during an annual exam.
Women often have uterine bleeding as an
early symptom. Being aware of any irregular
bleeding, especially after menopause, can
make it easier to diagnose endometrial cancer in the early stages. If vaginal bleeding,
discharge or spotting occurs, a transvaginal
ultrasound can help diagnose the disease. A
thickened endometrium calls for more testing.
"If a postmenopausal woman were to
start having vaginal bleeding, just because
they have a normal or negative Pap smear
doesn't mean they can't have some sort of
gynecological malignity," says McDonald of
the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Sometimes, he adds, an abnormal gynecological exam can warrant more testing of
the uterus.
Out-of-balance estrogen and progesterone levels and a higher body mass index
are risk factors for endometrial cancer.
In some instances, family history means
patients may need to consider having the
ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus removed

to prevent endometrial cancer. "If a person
does have one of those hereditary cancer
genes," McDonald says, "sometimes there
are additional screening strategies that we
can employ."
When endometrial cancer is diagnosed at
stage 1, 90 percent of women will be cancerfree five years after treatment.

Make It Personal

Even as populationwide screening is not
recommended for some cancers, it's essential
to keep updated on breakthroughs and new
recommendations for screening and to stay
watchful of your overall health. Eating nutritiously, controlling your weight and getting
enough exercise may help address moderate
risk factors in many diseases, including cancers where screening is not recommended.
Keep in mind: Completing a blood panel
as part of your annual physical may help
doctors spot cancer-related anemia or other
irregularities in the blood early on.
Take a personalized path to your health.
Working with a physician to understand your
specific risks makes it easier to tailor cancer
screenings based on your family history and
unique needs as you age, McIver says. "There
is immense knowledge in having a better
understanding of family cancer," he says.
Beyond lifestyle and family connections,
consider your environment. Prior work at a
chemical plant, for example, might warrant
screening in specific people, McIver says.
"With each person," he says, "you need to
clearly understand the risk profile." *

Know Your Risk

For more information about
genetic consultation and testing at
Community Healthcare System (Munster,
East Chicago, Hobart, Portage, St. John
and Valparaiso), visit COMHS.org.

Arm Yourself
with DNA

When it comes to preventing cancer, knowing
your genetic background
can help you evaluate
your risks. Oncology
professionals at the
hospitals of Community
Healthcare System:
Community Hospital
in Munster,
St. Catherine Hospital
in East Chicago and
St. Mary Medical Center
in Hobart, work to help
those at increased risk
for many types of cancers
learn more about their
options and increase their
peace of mind.
"Genetic testing may
help some individuals
learn whether they have
an increased likelihood
of developing a certain
type of cancer or whether
inherited factors have
contributed to their own
or a family member's
cancer," says Melissa
Plavsa, supervisor at the
High Risk Breast Clinic
in Munster.
The decision to
undergo genetic testing
is a personal choice that
can be made at the time
of a genetic counseling
appointment or at a
future date. For many
people, a cancer risk
assessment can be provided through genetic
counseling alone without
the use of genetic tests.
However, in some cases,
genetic testing can help
a patient and his or her
physician make important decisions.

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