Treatment for uterine cancer is a collaborative process between you and our team of specialized experts. We’re by your side to guide you through every step.
What is endometrial cancer?
Endometrial cancer starts in the inner lining of the uterus, the pear-shaped organ in which a baby grows during pregnancy. The inner lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. Endometrial cancer occurs when cancerous cells grow abnormally, eventually crowding out healthy cells.
How does endometrial cancer develop?
In general, cancer develops when the genetic material in cells changes abnormally. The cells begin growing out of control. When there are enough of these abnormal cells, they can form a tumor.
When endometrial cancer is caught early, surgery can often be a cure. Surgery is the most common treatment for this type of cancer. In some cases, additional treatments can include radiation therapy and drug therapy.
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Understanding Endometrial Cancer
Symptoms of Endometrial Cancer
Uterus cancer symptoms include:
- Any abnormal or irregular vaginal bleeding
- Bleeding between periods before menopause
- Bleeding after menopause
- Mass or growth in the pelvic area
- Pelvic pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Watery, bloody discharge from the vagina
Endometrial Cancer Risk Factors
Risk factors increase your chance of developing a condition. Endometrial cancer occurs most often in people over age 50. Other risk factors for endometrial cancer include:
- Changes in hormone balance, which can result from taking estrogen or tamoxifen (a breast cancer drug)
- Endometrial hyperplasia, a condition that causes the uterine lining to thicken
- Family history or personal history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or colorectal cancer
- Previous radiation therapy in the pelvic area to treat cancer
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
Types of Endometrial Cancer
The most common type is called endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is a kind of cancer that grows in glandular tissue. Glandular tissue lines the insides of certain organs in the body, including the uterus. Most endometrioid adenocarcinomas grow slowly.
There are several other types of endometrial cancer. Some are aggressive and grow quickly. A pathologist (a doctor who specializes in examining blood and tissue samples) determines the type by reviewing samples under a microscope.
Endometrial Cancer Stages
Endometrial cancer can be grouped into four stages:
- Stage 1: The cancer is limited to the uterus only.
- Stage 2: The cancer is in the uterus and cervix.
- Stage 3: The cancer has spread outside the uterus to the surface of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, or vagina.
- Stage 4: Cancer has spread to nearby organs such as the bladder or rectum, or other areas such as the lung, liver, or bones.
At Stanford Health Care, we tailor the diagnostic phase of cancer care to each individual patient. If you already have a diagnosis from a doctor or facility outside Stanford Health Care, we will request your test results from them. Our pathologists (doctors specializing in cancer diagnosis) will review those results and confirm or correct your diagnosis.
If you need further testing to complete your diagnosis, your doctor and care team will work with you to determine which tests you need. Tests may include:
Your doctor may recommend different types of imaging studies. These imaging tests help your doctor diagnose cancer and determine the stage. If you have been screened elsewhere and received abnormal results, we may perform additional imaging, if needed.
If an imaging or other screening test suggests that you may have cancer, you will need a biopsy. This test takes a tiny sample of cells from abnormal areas of tissue. Our pathologists examine the tissue sample under a microscope for signs of cancer.
Before and during treatment, your doctor may order blood tests. We take small samples of your blood and test them in a lab. Blood tests can provide a variety of details that help us establish your diagnosis and plan your course of cancer treatment.
Endometrial Cancer
Our team specializes in diagnosing and treating all stages and types of endometrial cancer. We deliver comprehensive cancer care and customized treatments.
Endometrial cancer
Endometrium
endometrial hyperplasia
uterine cancer
Lynch syndrome
symptoms of endometrial cancer
uterus cancer symptoms
endometrial cancer risk factors
bleeding after menopause
bleeding between periods
pelvic pain