Cancer of the Endometrium - Cancer of the Uterus

Cancer of the uterus occurs in the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. It is sometimes called endometrial cancer. Cancer of the uterus is the most frequent and most curable type of cancer that affects a woman's reproductive system. Among women, it is the fourth most common cancer after breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer.

What is going on in the body?

The cells that line the uterus respond to signals sent by estrogen and progesterone, 2 hormones made in the ovaries. In the first 2 weeks of a woman's monthly cycle, estrogen makes these cells divide and grow as the uterus prepares for pregnancy. During the second 2 weeks, progesterone prepares the lining of the uterus for an embryo to implant.

If pregnancy does not occur, the levels of both hormones fall sharply. This causes the lining of the uterus to slough off. This process is known as menstruation. The monthly menstrual cycle keeps the endometrium from growing too much.

Some women's bodies do not make progesterone. Others make high levels of estrogen. In both cases, the cells lining the uterus grow continuously and are not sloughed off regularly. This makes it more likely that precancerous changes of the endometrium will occur. If a woman is not treated for this, cancer of the uterus may develop.

Cancer of the uterus is most common in women between the ages of 50 to 65. But it can also occur in younger women.

What are the causes and risks of the disease?

No one knows exactly what causes cancer of the uterus, but certain factors increase a woman's risk. For example, some women's bodies make high levels of estrogen that are not balanced by progesterone. This is called unopposed estrogen. Cancer of the uterus is also more likely in women who have the following conditions:

A woman may also have a higher risk for this type of cancer if she has one of the following conditions:

What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?

The most common symptom of this disease is abnormal vaginal bleeding. Other symptoms include the following:

How is the disease diagnosed?

A Pap smear is not intended to diagnose uterine cancer. This test is used to diagnose cancer of the cervix. However, Pap smears occasionally show changes in endometrial cells. If this occurs, a biopsy or dilatation and curettage, or D&C, will be done. This involves scraping the uterine wall to gather more cells from the lining of the uterus.

If advanced cancer is suspected, other tests may be done, such as the following:

What can be done to prevent the disease?

No one knows exactly what causes cancer of the uterus. However, a woman may be able to lessen her risk of getting it by taking the following steps:

Also, a woman should talk with her healthcare provider about the risks of taking estrogen without progesterone after menopause if she has not had her uterus removed. The risk for cancer of the uterus may last as long as 10 years after adding progesterone or stopping estrogen therapy completely.

What are the long-term effects of the disease?

When cancer of the uterus is diagnosed early and treated, more than 80% of women will survive more than 5 years. Most are completely cured when the cancer is diagnosed and treated early.

What are the risks to others?

Uterine cancer is not contagious, so there are no risks to others.

What are the treatments for the disease?

Cancer of the uterus is treated by removing the uterus in a procedure called an abdominal hysterectomy. Doing this surgery through the abdomen rather than the vagina is recommended. It allows the surgeon to see the entire pelvis and abdomen and to note any spread of the cancer. He or she can also take samples of cells from the abdominal cavity to check for any tiny floating cancer cells. The surgeon will also remove lymph nodes from the pelvic area to be sure that the cancer has not spread.

Sometimes a surgeon will remove the uterus through the vagina and then remove the lymph nodes through a small cut in the abdomen. This avoids leaving a large scar on the abdomen and shortens the hospital stay. Not all women are candidates for this procedure.

Because tumor cells may have spread to the ovaries and fallopian tubes, these organs are usually removed also. For women with advanced disease, the preferred treatment is surgery. If the surgeon finds that the cancer has not spread, there may be no further treatment. Women who are at a higher risk of the cancer coming back may have radiation treatments to the pelvis. Or they may have chemotherapy. Because this cancer comes from a tissue that is sensitive to hormones, treatment with hormones may also be effective.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

After having a hysterectomy, a woman may experience the following:

Radiation therapy will usually produce some hair loss. Chemotherapy is often associated with nausea, vomiting, and anemia, or a low red blood cell count.

What happens after treatment for the disease?

A woman who has been treated for cancer of the uterus should try to take these steps:

If a woman tries herbal remedies or alternative medicines for her symptoms, she should tell her healthcare provider. Sometimes toxic reactions can occur when certain therapies are combined.

How is the disease monitored?

At least every 3 to 4 months after treatment, a woman should have a follow-up, including:

Depending on the stage of the cancer, other tests made be used, such as the following:

A woman should report any new or worsening symptoms that might suggest that the cancer is coming back. She can then be treated quickly, if necessary.

Following are some of the signs of recurrent endometrial cancer:

Author:Eva Martin, MD
Date Written:
Editor:Ballenberg, Sally, BS
Edit Date:02/28/01
Reviewer:Eileen McLaughlin, RN, BSN
Date Reviewed:07/13/01