Endometriosis is definitely not a form of cancer, nor is it a pre-cancerous condition.

Endometriosis is sometimes referred to as a benign cancer because it behaves like cancer in some ways. Like cancer, it is able to grow and expand, to implant itself in a distant part of the body after having been transported there by the bloodstream or the lymph vessels and to invade or penetrate organs and tissues in the body.

But unlike cancer, endometriosis does not destroy the organ or tissue on which it implants itself.

Any tissue in the body can develop into cancer. Therefore, theoretically, any endometrial implants and endometriomas have the potential to become cancerous. But it is extremely rare for endometriosis to become cancerous.

Is adenomyosis the same as endometriosis?

Adenomyosis is sometimes confused with endometriosis because some gynaecologists still refer to adenomyosis by its old names of ‘internal endometriosis’ or ‘endometriosis interna’. These terms should no longer be used as endometriosis and adenomyosis are two quite different conditions.

Adenomyosis is a condition in which the endometrium lining the uterus penetrates and grows into the adjacent muscle layer of the uterus. How the endometrium invades the muscle wall is not clear.

Adenomyosis is most commonly found in women in their 40s and 50s who have had children.

The main symptoms of adenomyosis are heavy bleeding and painful periods. It is thought that about 25% of women with adenomyosis have no symptoms at all.

The severity of the bleeding is related to the extent of the condition and in some women the bleeding is so excessive that the woman is actually haemorrhaging.

The severity of the pain appears to be related to how far the endometrium has penetrated into the muscle wall and some women may experience severe and incapacitating pain during menstruation.

A doctor may suspect that a woman has adenomyosis from her symptoms and an examination will usually indicate a moderately enlarged uterus. A definite diagnosis is difficult and is often only made when the uterus has been examined following a hysterectomy.

The drugs used for the treatment of endometriosis are not effective in the treatment of adenomyosis and for many women the only treatment for adenomyosis is hysterectomy.

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