Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the lining of the uterus called the endometrium. Cancer of the endometrium is different from cancer of the muscle of the uterus, which is called uterine sarcoma. About 80% of all endometrial cancers are adenocarcinomas.

Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive organs and is highly curable when found early. According to the American Cancer Society, about 49,560 cases of cancer of the uterine body will be diagnosed in the U.S. during 2013.

Symptoms

Consult a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Bleeding or discharge not related to your periods (menstruation)
• Postmenopausal bleeding
• Difficult or painful urination
• Pain during intercourse
• Pain and/or mass in the pelvic area

How can endometrial cancer be prevented?

The exact cause of endometrial cancer is unknown, and there is currently no medical cure for it. However, doctors believe that avoiding the known risk factors, when possible, using oral contraceptives, controlling obesity, and controlling diabetes are the best ways to lower the risk of developing endometrial cancer.

Risk factors:

• Early menarche — starting monthly periods early — before the age of 12
• Late menopause
• Infertility (inability to become pregnant)
• Never having children
• Obesity
• Being treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer
• Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) for treatment of effects of menopause
• Diet high in animal fat
• Diabetes
• Increases as women get older
• Most common in white women
• Family history of endometrial cancer or colon cancer (hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer)
• Personal history of breast cancer
• Personal history of ovarian cancer
• Prior radiation therapy for pelvic cancer
• Personal history of polycystic ovary syndrome or atypical endometrial hyperplasia

How is endometrial cancer diagnosed?

Diagnosis includes a medical history and physical exam. It may also include one or more of the following:

• Internal pelvic examination
• Pap test (also called Pap smear)
• Endometrial biopsy
• Dilation and curettage (also called D & C)
• Transvaginal ultrasound (also called ultrasonography)

Treatment for endometrial cancer

Specific treatment for endometrial cancer will be determined by your doctor(s) based on:

• Your overall health and medical history
• Extent of the disease
• Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• Expectations for the course of the disease
• Your opinion or preference
• The choice of treatment depends on the stage of cancer, whether it is just in the endometrium, or has spread to other parts of the uterus or other parts of the body. Treatment for patients with cancer of the endometrium may include one or more of the following:

Surgery (including: Hysterectomy, Salpingo-oophorectomy, Pelvic lymph node dissection, and Laparoscopic lymph node sampling)
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Hormone therapy