How will I know I have endometrial cancer?
You won’t know if you have endometrial cancer until your doctor has yarned with you, done a physical examination and completed some tests.
The tests might include:
- an ultrasound, like you might have had when pregnant, except that the doctor puts a probe inside your vagina to do it
- blood tests
- a hysteroscopy, where a doctor uses a type of telescope to look up your vagina and into your womb.
- a D&C (dilation and curettage), which can be done at the same time as the hysteroscopy, where a doctor scrapes the lining of your uterus to get a sample which they look at with a microscope
- a biopsy (sometimes called a Pipelle), where a tiny bit of your uterus lining is taken out through a plastic tube, and they look at it with a microscope.
A hysteroscope, D&C and biopsy will most likely be done in surgery. You will be given medicine to make sure you do not feel any discomfort during these procedures.
Most women who have these tests find out they don’t have endometrial cancer, but it’s important to check.