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Are Vaginal Bleeding And Dryness Signs Of Cancer?
Question: I am 71 and about 8 years ago had some show of blood which was bright red...It was very little and it was just that one time. I also suffered from vaginal dryness and after reading that it could definitely be from that I just ignored it. Recently I had a trans vaginal ultrasound and measured 11 which is high. I am going for a biopsy next week. My question is if I had developed cancer over 8 years ago when I showed some blood would I not have noticed signs of the illness over all these years? I am worried that I didn't do anything at the time and may have caused a serious problem now.
Brief Answer:
There are many benign conditions that can cause endometrial thickening
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and I hope I can help you today.
The cells that line the uterus are supposed to become very thin after menstruation stops. However, the upper limit of what is considered normal is 4 mm and your is only 11. That is not a dramatically thick uterine lining, and while you cannot rule out cancer without a biopsy, the likelihood that you have invasive cancer after 5 years when you first had bleeding with only a 7mm increase in your endometrial stripe is extremely unlikely.
Estrogen normally is responsible for the uterine lining growing. Your body fat produces estrogen, so overweight women frequently have thickened uterine lining. Taking estrogen in any form, like hormone replacement, or even vaginal creams can also affect the endometrial thickness, as well as polyps and simple hyperplasia, both benign conditions.
So I seriously doubt you have cancer, and if you had early cancer 5 years ago that was never treated, you would have had further bleeding and more significant findings on your ultrasound.
I hope I was able to reassure you with this information and the important thing is that you are getting the biopsy now. Fortunately I do not think your delay in treatment will have any negative effects.
If you need any further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best wishes,
Dr. Brown
There are many benign conditions that can cause endometrial thickening
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and I hope I can help you today.
The cells that line the uterus are supposed to become very thin after menstruation stops. However, the upper limit of what is considered normal is 4 mm and your is only 11. That is not a dramatically thick uterine lining, and while you cannot rule out cancer without a biopsy, the likelihood that you have invasive cancer after 5 years when you first had bleeding with only a 7mm increase in your endometrial stripe is extremely unlikely.
Estrogen normally is responsible for the uterine lining growing. Your body fat produces estrogen, so overweight women frequently have thickened uterine lining. Taking estrogen in any form, like hormone replacement, or even vaginal creams can also affect the endometrial thickness, as well as polyps and simple hyperplasia, both benign conditions.
So I seriously doubt you have cancer, and if you had early cancer 5 years ago that was never treated, you would have had further bleeding and more significant findings on your ultrasound.
I hope I was able to reassure you with this information and the important thing is that you are getting the biopsy now. Fortunately I do not think your delay in treatment will have any negative effects.
If you need any further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best wishes,
Dr. Brown
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you Dr. Brown for your quick response. You have relieved much of the anxiety that I have been feeling. The reason I had the ultrasound was because I spotted again so they are running me through all the tests to make sure there isn't something going on. This was just after I used that plunger that comes with Replense and since I haven't had intercourse in years it was not comfortable. The very next day I spotted.
I was concerned also that my past use of Premarin and Estrace might have caused a problem after reading that it could. I also had a lumpectomy last year that was very small and insitu with two lump nodes being removed that were both clean. I went through 20 treatments of radiation. I was extremely lucky. No chemo and everything went off perfectly with surgery, etc. I realize I am getting long in the tooth and things do happen, but overall I am pretty healthy. I could loose several pounds so that is a goal I am setting for myself. Thank you again for the information you provided.
I was concerned also that my past use of Premarin and Estrace might have caused a problem after reading that it could. I also had a lumpectomy last year that was very small and insitu with two lump nodes being removed that were both clean. I went through 20 treatments of radiation. I was extremely lucky. No chemo and everything went off perfectly with surgery, etc. I realize I am getting long in the tooth and things do happen, but overall I am pretty healthy. I could loose several pounds so that is a goal I am setting for myself. Thank you again for the information you provided.
Brief Answer:
You are very welcome and best of luck with the biopsy
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
So there is a possibility you also just scraped yourself with the Replens applicator, but it is still best to have the biopsy to make sure that everything is ok.
The biopsy itself can cause some cramping, so I suggest you take some pain reliever like Ibuprofen about 20 minutes beforehand.
I would be happy to discuss the biopsy results with you once they become available, but again, the greatest likelihood is that everything will be fine.
Take care,
Dr. Brown
You are very welcome and best of luck with the biopsy
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
So there is a possibility you also just scraped yourself with the Replens applicator, but it is still best to have the biopsy to make sure that everything is ok.
The biopsy itself can cause some cramping, so I suggest you take some pain reliever like Ibuprofen about 20 minutes beforehand.
I would be happy to discuss the biopsy results with you once they become available, but again, the greatest likelihood is that everything will be fine.
Take care,
Dr. Brown
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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