At 45, how long has my endometrial cancer been growing?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 45-year-old and was recently diagnosed with endometrial cancer after scans for persistent pain. A PET scan shows advanced disease, and a biopsy confirms malignancy, but doctors did not say how long it had been there. I keep thinking about past symptoms I ignored.

I am struggling mentally, thinking I missed early signs, and want to understand if this could realistically have been caught earlier. Please tell me,

How do I know how long cancer had been growing before diagnosis at 45?
Is there any way doctors can estimate the duration based on tumor size or spread?
Does slow symptom onset usually mean it was growing silently for years?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Cancer typically develops over a gradual period of time, often months to years, depending on the specific type and its biological behavior. In many cases, it can remain silent during the early stages, without producing noticeable or specific symptoms that would clearly suggest a serious condition.

In your case, Lynch syndrome (a hereditary disease) significantly increases the risk of certain cancers, particularly gynecological cancers such as endometrial cancer. These conditions may grow quietly, and symptoms often appear only when the disease has progressed further.

It is very common for patients to look back and feel they may have missed early warning signs. However, in reality, early symptoms are often vague, nonspecific, or even absent, making early detection difficult despite appropriate care.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to determine exactly how long the cancer has been present. Doctors may estimate based on the following factors:

Tumor size.
Extent of spread (Positron emitting tomography, PET scan findings).
Tumor type and aggressiveness.

However, these are only approximations, not exact timelines. Also, the doctor will suggest you undergo investigations to identify the exact type and origin of the cancer. It will also help to determine staging and treatment options.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.