Over 40, obesity can lead to ovarian cancer
Harmonal changes, weight fluctuations increase risk in post- menopausal women
There has been an increasing trend of obesity- induced endometrial cancer, especially in post- menopausal women, said city doctors. A Delhi- based hospital on Tuesday presented nine cases of morbidly obese patients with BMI over 40, who underwent successful robotic surgery for endometrial cancer.
Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common malignancy ( cancer) in women today and obesity has become one of its leading causes. 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.
These nine cases were patients with over 40 BMI and detected in Stage 1 of endometrial cancer. In one of the cases, a 55- year- old patient, who wighed 157 kg, was leading a normal life, until she noticed sudden bleeding from her vagina.
She had attained menopause for two years, hence was advised an endometrial sampling, which suggested high- grade cancer. After due tests, she successfully underwent a robotic radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic node dissection in which the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and pelvic lymph nodes are removed and was discharged in two days.
“The risk of endom- etrial cancer increases by 9x in morbidly obese women, as compared to women with normal BMI. In most cases, surgery is the most effective treatment. Also, in obese patients, robotic surgery which is minimally invasive is more effective and safer procedure, than traditional laparotomy. This is mostly because of key- hole incisions, less blood loss, negligible postoperative pain and almost immediate recovery to routine activities,” said Dr Amish Chaudhary, Senior Consultant, Gynaecology Oncology and Robotics, Max Hospital, Saket.
In the case of postmenopausal women, in particular, this risk incidence increases, as hormonal changes and sharp fluctuations in weight become common if someone takes unopposed estrogens, and other additional factors that leads to the development of ovarian cancer.