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Trends show obesity may lead to endometrial cancer

All of the nine patients had body mass index (BMI) above 40 (normal BMI ranges up to 24.9) and weighed between 115 and 157 kilograms.

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A Delhi-based private hospital recently released its observation on current trends that show that obesity puts women at high risk of endometrial cancer. In the last four months, the hospital has treated nine endometrial cancer patients weighing over 100 kilograms. The cancer is also prevalent in post-menopausal women.

All of the nine patients had body mass index (BMI) above 40 (normal BMI ranges up to 24.9) and weighed between 115 and 157 kilograms. Two of the patients was 55-year-old and 63-year-old and were helped due to an early diagnosis that helped cure and recover faster from the surgery.

"The risk of endometrial cancer increases by nine times in morbidly obese women, as compared to women with normal BMI. With damaging lifestyle habits, leading to a higher incidence of obesity in the country, there has been a proportionate rise in breast and endometrial cancer incidence. In the case of post-menopausal women, in particular, this risk incidence increases, as hormonal changes and sharp fluctuations in weight become common, history of polycystic ovarian disease, diabetes are other additional factors leading to development of ovarian cancer," said Dr Amish Chaudhary, senior consultant – gynaecology oncology and robotics, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket.

"The 63-year-old patient had attained menopause over a decade back before she had an episode of vaginal bleeding. She has been a breast cancer survivor for 12 years and the news of another malignancy came as a shock to her family. She weighed 127 kgs at the time of surgery and in such cases, anesthesia administration is a severe challenge. A team of doctors performed a robotic radical hysterectomy and Sentinel lymph node biopsy and now the patient is in comfortable recovery. The patient has been advised a follow-up every three months," said Dr Kanika Batra Modi, assistant consultant – gynaecology oncology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket.

Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common malignancy (cancer) in women today. Obesity has become one of the leading causes of endometrial cancer, causing a two to five-fold risk. With damaging lifestyle habits, leading to a higher incidence of obesity in the country, there has been a proportionate rise in breast and endometrial cancer incidence. In the case of post-menopausal women, in particular, this risk incidence increases, as hormonal changes and sharp fluctuations in weight become common if someone takes unopposed estrogens, history of a polycystic ovarian disease, diabetes are other additional factors leading to the development of ovarian cancer.

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