Uterine Cancer

Understanding Uterine Cancer

The uterus is a pear-shaped female reproductive organ located in the pelvis. This is where babies grow during pregnancy.

Uterine cancer happens when abnormal cells grow out of control in the uterus. There are two types of uterine cancer:

1. Endometrial Cancer. This type occurs in the endometrium, or the lining of the uterus. This lining supports pregnancy, or it’s shed each month during the menstrual cycle. Most uterine cancers are endometrial cancers.
2. Uterine Sarcoma. This cancer develops in the muscle wall of the uterus. This thick layer of muscle squeezes to deliver a baby or to expel the endometrial lining during menstruation. Uterine sarcomas are rarer than endometrial cancers and often more aggressive.

The risk for uterine cancer increases with:

• Obesity. Extra fat tissue in the body can increase the amount of estrogen, which significantly increases the risk for uterine cancer.
• Age. Most uterine cancers are diagnosed after menopause, at an average age of 60.
• Family history. You’re more likely to develop uterine cancer if you have a parent, sibling or child who’s had it. Also, inheriting certain conditions like Lynch Syndrome can increase your risk of uterine cancer.

How is Uterine Cancer Diagnosed?

The most common symptom of uterine cancer is abnormal bleeding. It’s important to monitor for any unusual bleeding or spotting, regardless of your age.

Your doctor will use a combination of tests to diagnose uterine cancer. This includes:

• Physical examination
• Biopsy to test a tissue sample from the uterus
• Ultrasound to check for abnormalities in the uterus

Treatment

Most uterine cancer is treated through surgical removal of the uterus, which is called hysterectomy. Since most uterine cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, a hysterectomy can often remove all cancer. However, if the cancer has spread outside of the uterus, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

Since obesity is a central cause of uterine cancer, your doctor may also recommend weight management or bariatric weight loss surgery.

Research

Oncologists at IU Health can offer patients access to clinical trials in uterine cancer that may not be available anywhere else. IU Health oncologists, in partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine, currently offer six open clinical trials for endometrial cancer.

These studies are exploring:

• The quality of life patients experience after undergoing surgery for endometrial cancer
• The effectiveness of surgery and certain targeted therapies during early- and late-stage cancer

Personalized Cancer Care

Our specialists offer patients with recurring uterine cancer access to precision medicine. If your uterine cancer has returned, the IU Health Precision Genomics team can evaluate your tumor to look for specific genetic mutations that may have caused it. Using this genetic information, our doctors can specialize treatment to target your individual cancer. This offers more personalized treatments that address what is causing your uterine cancer.