Endometrial cancer is cancer in the lining of a woman’s uterus, or womb. In 2009, The National Cancer Institute estimated that over 42,000 new cases were diagnosed, and 7,780 women died from endometrial cancer. Make sure you know the endometrial cancer risk factors.
Symptoms of endometrial cancer
Cancer of the uterus, including endometrial cancer, typically begins after a woman goes into menopause. It can also begin around the time that menopause starts. Symptoms of endometrial cancer include:
• Bleeding – Abnormal vaginal bleeding may start out watery and gradually become more bloody. This can also include bleeding between normal periods before menopause, or bleeding after menopause. Abnormal bleeding or vaginal discharge should not be considered a normal part of menopause.
• Urination – Difficulty passing urine or pain while urinating may be symptoms of this type of cancer.
• Pain during intercourse
• Pelvic pain
These symptoms can also be caused by other, less serious conditions, so it’s important to see your doctor to determine the cause.
Diagnosing endometrial cancer
Your doctor may order one or more tests to determine if endometrial cancer is present:
• Pelvic exam – The doctor checks the vagina, uterus, bladder, and rectum by feeling the organs to check for lumps or other changes, and by looking into the vagina for visible symptoms.
• Pap test – The doctor collects cells from the cervix (bottom portion of the uterus) and vagina (birth canal) and sends them to the lab where they are examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells.
• Transvaginal ultrasound – The doctor uses an instrument inserted into the vagina to send high-frequency sound waves into the uterus. The device measures the echoes from these waves to see if the endometrium is thicker than is should be which could be a sign of cancer.
• Biopsy – The doctor removes cells from the lining of the uterus and sends them to the lab to be examined. This may be done in the doctor’s office or may be done as outpatient surgery.
Your doctor may talk about one of three “grades” of cancer. Grade 1 is the least aggressive type of cancer. Grade 3 is the most serious or aggressive type of cancer. Endometrial cancer is also divided into “stages”:
• Stage 1: The cancer is only in the uterus (womb).
• Stage 2: The cancer is in the uterus and cervix (bottom portion of the uterus).
• Stage 3: The cancer has spread outside the uterus, but is still contained in the area of the pelvis. This may mean cancer is in the lymph nodes in the pelvis, or near the major artery in the abdomen.
• Stage 4: The cancer has spread to the bowel, bladder, abdomen, or other organs.
Treating endometrial cancer
Standard treatment for this type of cancer is surgery. Radiation and chemotherapy may also be recommended.
• Hysterectomy – Women with stage 1 cancer are most often treated by surgically removing the uterus. You can find out more about this procedure in the hysterectomy overview. In most cases, the ovaries and fallopian tubes are also removed. Abdominal surgery is recommended over other types of surgery to give the surgeon the best chance to check the abdomen to see if the cancer has spread.
• Radiation treatment – X-rays or radioactive particles can be used to kill cancer cells. Unfortunately, surrounding healthy cells are also often killed during this procedure. Radiation may be recommended along with surgery for patients with stage 1 cancer that has a high chance of returning or that has spread to the lymph nodes. It is often used to treat women with stage 2 or 3 cancer.
• Chemotherapy – Specialized, cancer-killing drugs are sometimes also recommended, especially for women with stage 3 or 4 cancer. As with radiation, these drugs also damage healthy cells in the body.
Your doctor will determine which treatments are most appropriate for each patient. Early detection is critical to make sure endometrial cancer is caught in the early stage for the best possible outcome. All women who are sexually active or who are 21 years or older should have a pelvic exam and pap smear at least every three years to check for abnormal cells in the uterus and vagina.
Sources:
National Cancer Institute: What You Need to Know About Cancer of the Uterus
National Institutes of Health: Medline Plus
American Cancer Society