About Uterine Cancer

Name of the medical condition and other names that it’s been known by

• Uterine Cancer

• Endometrial Cancer

• Some people use these terms interchangeably, but uterine cancer is a broader term that includes endometrial cancer and a rarer type called uterine sarcoma.

What is Uterine Cancer?

Uterine cancer is a disease that affects the uterus, which is part of a woman's reproductive system. The uterus is where a baby grows during pregnancy. It's shaped like a pear in the lower part of a woman's belly.

There are two main types of uterine cancer:

• Endometrial cancer: This is the most common type, making up about 95% of all uterine cancers. It starts in the endometrium, which is the inner lining of the uterus.

• Uterine sarcoma: This is a rare type that starts in the muscles or other tissues of the uterus.

Uterine cancer happens when normal cells in the uterus change and grow out of control, forming a tumor. These cancer cells can spread to other body parts if not treated.

Some common signs of uterine cancer include:

• Unusual bleeding or discharge from the vagina, especially after menopause

• Pain or difficulty when peeing

• Pain during sex

• Pain in the pelvic area

• Unexplained weight loss

Uterine cancer is most common in women over 45, but it can affect younger women too. Some things that can increase a woman's risk of getting uterine cancer include:

• Being overweight or obese

• Having gone through menopause

• Taking estrogen by itself (without progesterone) for hormone replacement

• Having certain medical conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

• Having a family history of uterine, ovarian, or colon cancer

Doctors can diagnose uterine cancer through various tests, including:

• A physical exam

• Ultrasound of the pelvis

• Biopsy (taking a small sample of tissue to examine under a microscope)

Treatment for uterine cancer usually involves surgery to remove the uterus (called a hysterectomy). Depending on how advanced the cancer is, a woman might also need radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy.

The good news is that when uterine cancer is caught early, it can often be cured. That's why it's important for women to see their doctor regularly and report any unusual symptoms.

Trend
• In the United States, about 66,570 new cases of uterine cancer were expected to be diagnosed in 2021. 

• As for the number of people living with uterine cancer, it's estimated that about 813,860 women were living with uterine corpus cancer in the United States in 2018.

• The number of new cases has been increasing slightly each year for the past five years. This trend is expected to continue over the next five years.

History
Uterine cancer has been known for a long time, but our understanding of it has changed a lot over the years. In the past, doctors didn't always distinguish between different types of uterine cancer. 

In the early 1900s, researchers started to understand more about the different types of cells in the uterus and how they could become cancerous.

A big change came in the 1950s when doctors started to use a test called a Pap smear to check for cervical cancer. While this test doesn't check for uterine cancer, it made more women aware of the importance of regular check-ups.

In recent decades, better imaging techniques like ultrasound and MRI have helped doctors diagnose uterine cancer earlier. New treatments have also been developed, giving women with uterine cancer more options and better chances of survival.

Uterine Cancer - Source of Information

• Yale Medicine https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/uterine-cancer

• Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16409-uterine-cancer

• National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000910.htm

For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice.