Uterine fibroid and uterine cancer are two different types of gynecologic diseases that share some similar symptoms. Gynecologic diseases are diseases that involve the female reproductive tract.
The key difference between uterine fibroid and uterine cancer is their location of origin. Uterine fibroid is a noncancerous tumor that develops in or on the muscular walls of the uterus, while uterine cancer is a type of gynecologic cancer that develops in the lining of the uterus and in the muscle outer layer of the uterus.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Uterine Fibroid
3. What is Uterine Cancer
4. Similarities – Uterine Fibroid and Uterine Cancer
5. Uterine Fibroid vs Uterine Cancer in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Uterine Fibroid vs Uterine Cancer
7. FAQ – Uterine Fibroid and Uterine Cancer
What is Uterine Fibroid?
Uterine fibroid is also called uterine leiomyoma. It is a noncancerous tumor that develops in or on the muscular walls of the uterus. Uterine fibroids more commonly result in symptoms such as heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, frequent urination, and rectal pressure.
Figure 01: Uterine Fibroid
Uterine fibroid can be diagnosed through pelvic examinations, MRI, CT scan, hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, hysterosalpingography, and sonohysterography. Furthermore, treatment options for uterine fibroid may include medications such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (Zoladex), birth control pills and other types of hormonal birth control methods, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and surgeries like a myomectomy or hysterectomy.
What is Uterine Cancer?
Uterine cancer is the most common type of gynecologic cancer. It generally occurs in women who are postmenopausal or in their 50s or 60s. However, it can occur at any age. Uterine cancer may result in symptoms such as atypical vaginal bleeding, changes in vaginal discharge, and pelvic pain or pressure.
Figure 02: Uterine Cancer
If a person has uterine cancer, it can be diagnosed through medical history assessment, pelvic examination, pelvic or transvaginal ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, PET scan, endometrial biopsy, hysteroscopy, dilation and cutterage, cystoscopy, and proctoscopy. Furthermore, treatments a doctor recommends for uterine cancer include surgery (hysterectomy), radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Similarities Between Uterine Fibroid and Uterine Cancer
- Uterine fibroid and uterine cancer are two types of gynecological conditions.
- Both these conditions may involve similar symptoms, such as bleeding, pelvic pain, etc.
- Both these conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
Difference Between Uterine Fibroid and Uterine Cancer
Definition
- Uterine fibroid is a growth made of muscle and tissue that forms in or on the wall of the uterus.
- Uterus cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the uterus when abnormal cells develop in the uterus and begin growing out of control.
Causes
- The causes of uterine fibroid include higher levels of hormones, estrogen, and progesterone.
- The causes of uterine cancer include being postmenopausal, having a thickened wall lining, never having children, starting period early, having high blood pressure and diabetes, being overweight, family history of ovarian, uterine, or bowel cancer, having Cowden syndrome or Lynch syndrome, previous ovarian cancers, using estrogen only hormone replacement therapy, previous radiation therapy and using tamoxifen for breast cancer.
Symptoms
- The symptoms of uterine fibroid include bleeding between periods, heavy bleeding during the period, periods that may last longer than normal, frequent urination, pelvic cramping, feeling fullness, and pain during intercourse.
- The symptoms of uterine cancer include heavier than usual periods, vaginal bleeding between periods, periods continuing without a break, a watery discharge, unexplained weight loss, difficulty urinating, a change in bowel habits, and abdominal pain.
Diagnosis
- Tests to diagnose uterine fibroid include pelvic examination, ultrasound, MRI, saline infusion sonogram, hysteroscopy, and endometrial biopsy.
- Tests to diagnose uterine cancer include medical history, pelvic examination, pelvic ultrasound, abdominal ultrasound, transvaginal ultrasound, endometrial biopsy, hysteroscopy and biopsy, blood test, urine test, X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and PET scan.
Treatment
- Treatment options for uterine fibroid include using intrauterine devices (IUDs) that release hormones, pain relievers, tranexamic acid, iron supplements, birth control pills, combination oral medication that suppresses hormone production to manage heavy periods, hormone shots to help shrink fibroids and surgeries (hysteroscopy, endometrial ablation, myomectomy, etc.)
- Treatment options for uterine cancer include surgery (hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy), radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
The following table summarizes the difference between uterine fibroid and uterine cancer.
Summary – Uterine Fibroid vs Uterine Cancer
Uterine fibroid and uterine cancer are two different types of gynecological conditions. Both conditions sometimes may involve similar symptoms such as heavy bleeding between periods, pelvic pain, etc. Uterine fibroid is a noncancerous tumor that grows in the uterus, while uterine cancer involves the development of a cancerous tumor in the uterus. This is the key difference between uterine fibroid and uterine cancer.
FAQ: Uterine Fibroid and Uterine Cancer
1. What does uterine fibroid pain feel like?
- Uterine fibroids can cause a burning or throbbing feeling when having sex, painful cramps during and after periods, burning or stinging pain when defecating, and lower back pain. A uterine fibroid may also involve other symptoms like heavy bleeding between periods.
2. What is the best treatment for fibroids?
- Small fibroids can be removed by hysteroscopy, whereas larger fibroids may require laparoscopic myomectomy. Other treatments include taking medications such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, NSAIDs, birth control pills, and other types of hormonal birth control methods.
3. What is the leading cause of uterine cancer?
- The exact cause of a woman’s uterine cancer is not known. However, certain risk factors are strongly connected to the disease. These include obesity and high blood sugar. Uterine cancer normally forms when DNA in cells in the uterus mutates, disabling control of cell division and growth.
4. What are the symptoms of uterine cancer?
- The symptoms of uterine cancer may include lower abdominal pain or cramping in the pelvis, vaginal bleeding between periods before menopause, vaginal bleeding or spotting after menopause, and thin white or clear vaginal discharge.
5. How curable is uterine cancer?
- Uterine cancer is normally treatable if it is diagnosed at an early stage. Treatments include surgery (hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy), chemotherapy, and radiation.
Reference:
1. “Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer: What Is It?” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Uterine Fibroids.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Uterine fibroid 01” By SnowBink – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Uterus with Cancer Origins” By Crosscoupling – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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