Uterine Cancer

This information was provided with permission from The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation.

Most uterine cancers begin in the lining of the uterus which is also called the endometrium. Uterine cancer occurs when cells in the endometrium grow out of control and invade the muscle of the uterus or spread to other places in the body.

Symptoms: Any bleeding after menopause, or irregular vaginal bleeding before menopause.

Risk factors: Obesity, hypertension, diabetes, estrogen use without progesterone taken at the same time, tamoxifen use and late menopause. Women who have not been pregnant also have a slightly higher risk for endometrial cancer.

Screening /Prevention: There are no screening tests for endometrial cancer, but most cancers are found in the early stages when women report their symptom of abnormal bleeding to their doctor and have a biopsy that shows the cancer. Exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight all can lower a woman’s risk of getting uterine cancer. Women with postmenopausal bleeding or heavy, prolonged or unexpected bleeding during the menstruating years should have an endometrial biopsy to check for endometrial cancer. A Pap test does not screen for endometrial cancer.

Incidence: It is estimated that there will be over 46,400 new cases diagnosed and over 8,100 deaths from endometrial cancer in the United States during 2011. (American Cancer Society.)