Health Topics for Cancer

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Endometrial cancer

Cancer of the endometrium is abnormal cell growth in the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus. Endometrial cancer responds well to treatment when it is detected early.

Symptoms that should be medically evaluated include:

• vaginal discharge or bleeding, not associated with periods
• pain during intercourse
• pain in the pelvic region and
• difficult or painful urination

The risk of endometrial cancer increases with age. Although there may be some cases that occur in women younger than 40, most cases occur over the age of 50.

Other factors that can increase the risk include:

• endometrial hyperplasia
• estrogen therapy that does not include progesterone
• the drug, tamoxifen, which is used in the treatment of breast cancer
• early age of first menstrual period
• late menopause
• never having children, a history of infertility, or not ovulating
• obesity diabetes
• hypertension and
• white women are more likely to have uterine cancer than African American women

Early diagnosis is the key to treatment. Women should have annual pelvic exams, when the healthcare provider checks for and finds lumps or changes in the size or shape of the uterus. A Pap test is used for detecting a cancer of the cervix and will not find an endometrial cancer because endometrial cancer is found inside the wall of the uterus.

If endometrial cancer is suspected, the healthcare provider may perform a dilatation and curettage (D & C). During this procedure the cervix is stretched open with a special instrument. The walls of the uterus are then gently scraped for cells. These cells are then tested for cancer.

Treatment may include, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy. The type of treatment chosen will depend on the severity of the cancer.

The 5-year survival rate for endometrial cancer is over 80 percent if it is discovered at an early stage.

Consult the UI Health Care Cancer Information Service at 800-237-1225 or 319-356-3000 for more information about this topic.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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