Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDetermining the StageStage 1Stage 2Stage 3Stage 4Frequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Determining the Stage
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common type of uterine cancer is also calledendometrial cancerbecause it forms in the lining of your uterus, called the endometrium.
How Common Is Uterine Cancer?Uterine cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. It is diagnosed in 27.2 per 100,000 people each year and kills 5 per 100,000 people each year.The five-year survival rate for people with localized uterine cancer that has not metastasized is 95%.
How Common Is Uterine Cancer?
Uterine cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. It is diagnosed in 27.2 per 100,000 people each year and kills 5 per 100,000 people each year.The five-year survival rate for people with localized uterine cancer that has not metastasized is 95%.
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Anybody who has a uterus is at risk of developing uterine cancer. However, the risk of developing uterine cancer increases with age. People who are enteringmenopauseor in menopause (the time when you stop having periods) is when most uterine cancers are found.
Risk Factors
Women with one or more of these factors may be more at risk of developing uterine cancer:
Unfortunately, there are no screening tests that can be performed for uterine cancer before there are any signs and symptoms. If you are at high risk for uterine cancer, you should speak with your doctor about early warningsigns and symptomsand whether you would be a good candidate for taking any diagnostic tests to check for uterine cancer.
Diagnostic teststhat can detect or rule out uterine cancer include endometrial biopsy (removing a small piece of tissue for examining under a microscope) ortransvaginal ultrasound(a type of ultrasound that uses a wand inserted into the vagina to visualize the pelvic area).
Once a doctor confirms a diagnosis of uterine cancer, staging is the next step. Staging refers to how much the cancer has grown and whether it has spread beyond where it started. To stage the cancer, a physical exam, biopsy, or imaging tests may be used. Understanding which stage your cancer is in can help determine the best treatment plan.
TNM Staging System
Tumor (T): What is the size and extent of the tumor? How far has it grown in the uterus? Has it reached any other surrounding organs?
Metastasis (M): Has the cancer spread to other parts of the body? This includes distant lymph nodes and organs.
An Overview of Cancer Stages
Symptoms
Some of the early signs of uterine cancer include vaginal discharge andbleeding that is abnormal. This can include very heavy bleeding that is not typical for you or bleeding after you’ve begun menopause (when your periods stop).
Treatments
Options to treat stage 1 uterine cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, or clinical trials.
Surgery options include:
What If I Want to Have Children?If you are diagnosed with uterine cancer but still want to have children, speak with your doctor about alternatives to a hysterectomy. Your options may include radiation therapy, hormone treatments, or operative hysteroscopy (a procedure to find and remove growths from the uterus).
What If I Want to Have Children?
If you are diagnosed with uterine cancer but still want to have children, speak with your doctor about alternatives to a hysterectomy. Your options may include radiation therapy, hormone treatments, or operative hysteroscopy (a procedure to find and remove growths from the uterus).
In some cases, pelvic washing may also be used. Pelvic washing is a procedure used during surgery in which a saline solution is pumped into different areas of the abdominal cavity and pelvis and then collected. The cells collected from the pelvic and abdominal region can be sent to a lab to be further analyzed for cancerous cells.
Symptoms of stage 2 are similar to stage 1. You may experience unusual bleeding, spotting, or vaginal discharge that is not normal for you.
Treatment for stage 2 include all the options for treating stage 1 uterine cancer.
Stage 3 indicates that the cancer has spread outside the uterus but has not spread to the rectum or bladder. There is no spread to lymph nodes or distant sites. Additional letters or numbers can tell you more about where the cancer has spread and the extent, including:
Along with the symptoms experienced in stages 1 and 2 you may also experience some pain or pressure in the pelvis. Other symptoms may include your belly bloating, discomfort during sex, feeling full very quickly when eating, or changes in bowel and bladder habits. You may undergo weight loss or feel a mass or lump in the abdomen.
Treatment of stage 3 cancer includes all the treatment options for stages 1 and 2 uterine cancer, and additional treatments, such as:
Stage 4 indicates that cancer has spread to the inner lining of the rectum or bladder. Additional letters provide more information about the extent of the spread, including:
You’ll experience the same symptoms as stage 3, with additional symptoms near where the cancer may have spread. If it has spread to your bones, you may feel bone aches and pains. If it has spread to your lungs, you may have shortness of breath.
Treatment
Stage 4 treatment includes all the treatment options for stage 3 uterine cancer. For very aggressive forms of stage 4 uterine cancer, there is no standard of treatment.You should speak with your doctor about the best treatment plan or options for clinical trials for you.
A Word From Verywell
Receiving a uterine cancer diagnosis is a scary and overwhelming experience, but it is important to know that there are treatment options at all stages. The five-year survival rate for this type of cancer is promising. Work with your doctor to determine the best course of treatment for you. Your medical team may also be able to provide some assistance with improving or maintaining a good quality of life during treatment.
Frequently Asked QuestionsUterine cancer is very treatable when it is caught early. Treatment options depend on the stage of cancer when it is caught and can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy.How quickly uterine cancer spreads depends on the type and subtype of cancer. Some less-common types of endometrial adenocarcinomas tend to grow and spread faster than most types of endometrial cancer.More research is needed to determine whether uterine cancer is hereditary. However, one study suggested that people with the BRCA1 mutation have a slightly higher risk of serous or serous-like endometrial cancer, an uncommon but aggressive type of uterine cancer.Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Endometrial Cancer
Uterine cancer is very treatable when it is caught early. Treatment options depend on the stage of cancer when it is caught and can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy.
How quickly uterine cancer spreads depends on the type and subtype of cancer. Some less-common types of endometrial adenocarcinomas tend to grow and spread faster than most types of endometrial cancer.
More research is needed to determine whether uterine cancer is hereditary. However, one study suggested that people with the BRCA1 mutation have a slightly higher risk of serous or serous-like endometrial cancer, an uncommon but aggressive type of uterine cancer.Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Endometrial Cancer
More research is needed to determine whether uterine cancer is hereditary. However, one study suggested that people with the BRCA1 mutation have a slightly higher risk of serous or serous-like endometrial cancer, an uncommon but aggressive type of uterine cancer.
Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Endometrial Cancer
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer statistics at a glance.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for endometrial cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of uterine cancer.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Uterine cancer risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Screening for uterine cancer.American Cancer Society.Endometrial cancer stages.National Cancer Institute.TNM staging.National Cancer Institute.Endometrial cancer treatment.National Cancer Institute.Radical hysterectomy.Temkin SM, Minasian L, Noone A-M.The end of the hysterectomy epidemic and endometrial cancer incidence: What are the unintended consequences of declining hysterectomy rates?Front Oncol. 2016;6:89. doi:10.3389/fonc.2016.00089American Cancer Society.Surgery for endometrial cancer.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer.National Cancer Institute.Uterine sarcoma treatment.National Cancer Institute.Uterine sarcoma treatment (PDQ®)–patient version.American Cancer Society.What is endometrial cancer?Breastcancer.org.BRCA1 mutation linked to higher risk of specific type of uterine cancer.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer statistics at a glance.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for endometrial cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of uterine cancer.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Uterine cancer risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Screening for uterine cancer.American Cancer Society.Endometrial cancer stages.National Cancer Institute.TNM staging.National Cancer Institute.Endometrial cancer treatment.National Cancer Institute.Radical hysterectomy.Temkin SM, Minasian L, Noone A-M.The end of the hysterectomy epidemic and endometrial cancer incidence: What are the unintended consequences of declining hysterectomy rates?Front Oncol. 2016;6:89. doi:10.3389/fonc.2016.00089American Cancer Society.Surgery for endometrial cancer.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer.National Cancer Institute.Uterine sarcoma treatment.National Cancer Institute.Uterine sarcoma treatment (PDQ®)–patient version.American Cancer Society.What is endometrial cancer?Breastcancer.org.BRCA1 mutation linked to higher risk of specific type of uterine cancer.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer statistics at a glance.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for endometrial cancer.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of uterine cancer.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Uterine cancer risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Screening for uterine cancer.American Cancer Society.Endometrial cancer stages.National Cancer Institute.TNM staging.National Cancer Institute.Endometrial cancer treatment.National Cancer Institute.Radical hysterectomy.Temkin SM, Minasian L, Noone A-M.The end of the hysterectomy epidemic and endometrial cancer incidence: What are the unintended consequences of declining hysterectomy rates?Front Oncol. 2016;6:89. doi:10.3389/fonc.2016.00089American Cancer Society.Surgery for endometrial cancer.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer.National Cancer Institute.Uterine sarcoma treatment.National Cancer Institute.Uterine sarcoma treatment (PDQ®)–patient version.American Cancer Society.What is endometrial cancer?Breastcancer.org.BRCA1 mutation linked to higher risk of specific type of uterine cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer statistics at a glance.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for endometrial cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of uterine cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Uterine cancer risk factors.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Screening for uterine cancer.
American Cancer Society.Endometrial cancer stages.
National Cancer Institute.TNM staging.
National Cancer Institute.Endometrial cancer treatment.
National Cancer Institute.Radical hysterectomy.
Temkin SM, Minasian L, Noone A-M.The end of the hysterectomy epidemic and endometrial cancer incidence: What are the unintended consequences of declining hysterectomy rates?Front Oncol. 2016;6:89. doi:10.3389/fonc.2016.00089
American Cancer Society.Surgery for endometrial cancer.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of endometrial cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Uterine sarcoma treatment.
National Cancer Institute.Uterine sarcoma treatment (PDQ®)–patient version.
American Cancer Society.What is endometrial cancer?
Breastcancer.org.BRCA1 mutation linked to higher risk of specific type of uterine cancer.
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