Can Colo-Rectal Cancer Screening Detect Endometrial Cancer the Has Spread to the Colon/Rectum?

Synthroid Cytomel
Synthroid Cytomel Member Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
Can colo-rectal cancer screening, like colonoscopy, detect endometrial cancer if it has spread to the colon, rectum, or anus?

Thank you.

Comments

  • HellieC
    HellieC Member Posts: 524 Member
    #2
    Hi Synthroid Cytomel
    I'm no expert here, but I would think that colo-rectal screening would only identify endometrial cancer if it had invaded right through the colon/rectal wall or if it was on the outside muscle layer, but was pushing inwards, causing pressure (like a "bulge") which could be seen by the 'scope. Remember that a colonoscopy is looking at the inside lining of the colon/rectum only.

    My endometrial adenocarcinoma had spread from the vaginal cuff and was wrapping itself around the outside of my sigmoid colon, but it had not invaded the colon muscle wall and so was not visible from the inside of the colon when the pathology was performed. It was found by MRI scan - I have not had a colonoscopy. In England, either MRI, CT or PET/CT are the most commonly used methods for identifying a recurrence of endometrial cancer and deciding on the mode of treatment.

    Sorry not to be an expert - but I hope my comments are of help.
    Kind regards
    Helen
  • Synthroid Cytomel
    Synthroid Cytomel Member Posts: 10
    #3
    HellieC said:

    Hi Synthroid Cytomel
    I'm no expert here, but I would think that colo-rectal screening would only identify endometrial cancer if it had invaded right through the colon/rectal wall or if it was on the outside muscle layer, but was pushing inwards, causing pressure (like a "bulge") which could be seen by the 'scope. Remember that a colonoscopy is looking at the inside lining of the colon/rectum only.

    My endometrial adenocarcinoma had spread from the vaginal cuff and was wrapping itself around the outside of my sigmoid colon, but it had not invaded the colon muscle wall and so was not visible from the inside of the colon when the pathology was performed. It was found by MRI scan - I have not had a colonoscopy. In England, either MRI, CT or PET/CT are the most commonly used methods for identifying a recurrence of endometrial cancer and deciding on the mode of treatment.

    Sorry not to be an expert - but I hope my comments are of help.
    Kind regards
    Helen

    Thank you
    Thank you for the explanation. I guess I really need to keep pushing for the PET/CT, especially since I also have uptake on my thyroid scan (sigh).

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