UTERINE CANCER

No one knows the exact causes of uterine cancer. However, it is clear that this disease is not contagious. No one can "catch" cancer from another person. Women who get this disease are more likely than other women to have certain risk factors.

What are the Risk Factors of Uterine Cancer?

Studies have found the following risk factors:

• Age over 50
• Presence of endometrial hyperplasia
• Use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• Women who use estrogen without progesterone have an increased risk of uterine cancer.
• presence of obesity, diabetes, and/or high blood pressure
• Use of Tamoxifen
• White women are more likely than African-American women to get uterine cancer.
• Women who have had an inherited form of colorectal cancer have a higher risk of developing uterine cancer than other women.

Types of Uterine Cancer

• Endometrial Cancer usually begins in the lining of the uterus (endometrium) and most often occurs after the reproductive years, between the ages of 60 and 70. Endometrial cancer is sometimes called uterine cancer, but there are other cells in the uterus that can become cancerous — such as muscle or myometrial cells.
• Uterine Sarcomas are cancers of the connective tissues, such as muscle, fat, bone, and fibrous tissue (the material that forms tendons and ligaments), of the uterus (womb).
• Cervical Carcinomas are cancers of the lower part of the uterus above the vagina, called the cervix.
• Endometrial Carcinomas are cancers that develop from the lining cells of the upper part of the uterus, called the body or corpus of the uterus.
  

What are the Symptoms of Uterine Cancer?

Uterine cancer usually occurs after menopause. But it may also occur around the time that menopause begins. Abnormal vaginal bleeding is the most common symptom of uterine cancer. Bleeding may start as a watery, blood-streaked flow that gradually contains more blood. Women should not assume that abnormal vaginal bleeding is part of menopause.

A woman should see her doctor if she has any of the following symptoms:

• Unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge
• Difficult or painful urination
• Pain during intercourse
• Pain in the pelvic area

How is Uterine Cancer Diagnosed?

If a woman has symptoms that suggest uterine cancer, her doctor may check general signs of health and may order blood and urine tests. The doctor also may perform one or more exams including a pelvic exam, pap test, transvaginal ultrasound, and/or biopsy.

If uterine cancer is diagnosed, the doctor needs to know the stage, or extent, of the disease to plan the best treatment. Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread, and if so, to what parts of the body.

These are the main features of each stage of the disease:

What is the Treatment for Uterine Cancer?

The patient's doctor may refer her to doctors who specialize in treating cancer, or she may ask for a referral. Treatment generally begins within a few weeks after the diagnosis. There will be time for the woman to talk with the doctor about her treatment choices, get a second opinion, and learn more about uterine cancer.

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