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Uterine Cancer Overview
What is the uterus?
The uterus, also called the womb, is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located in a woman's lower abdomen, between the bladder and the rectum.
About uterus cancer
Uterine cancer begins in the Uterus, or womb, located in the pelvic area, which is part of the female reproductive system. The uterus is a hollow pear shaped organ that protects and nurtures the growing fetus during pregnancy, and is involved in menstruation and menopause.
What are parts of the uterus?
* cervix - the narrow, lower portion of the uterus* corpus - the broader, upper part of the uterus
* myometrium - the outer layer of the corpus; the muscle that expands during pregnancy to hold the growing fetus
* endometrium - the inner lining of the uterus
Endometrial Cancer is cancer of the endometrium. This is the most common uterine cancer. The development of Endometrial Cancer may be described in four stages:
* Stage I: The cancer is only in the body of the uterus; it is not in the cervix.* Stage II: The cancer has spread from the body of the uterus to the cervix.
* Stage III: The cancer has spread outside the uterus, but not outside the pelvis. Lymph nodes in the pelvis may contain cancer cells.
* Stage IV: The cancer has spread into the bladder or rectum, or it has spread beyond the pelvis to other body parts.
Sarcoma of the Uterus begins in the muscle wall of the uterus (called the myometrium) or supporting tissues of the uterus. This form of uterine cancer occurs less frequently than Endometrial Cancer. The development of Uterine Sarcoma may be described in four stages:
* Stage I: Cancer is found only in the main part of the uterus, it is not found in the cervix.* Stage II: Cancer cells have spread to the cervix.
* Stage III: The cancer has spread outside the Uterus, but remains within the pelvic area.
* Stage IV: The cancer has spread to other parts of the body beyond the pelvic area to the lining of the bladder, the bowel, lymph nodes or other parts of the body beyond the pelvis.
How is it detected?
* Endometrial Biopsy* Dilation and Curettage (D&C)
* Transvaginal Ultrasound
* Computed Tomography (CT) Scans
* Physical Exam
* Pelvic Exam
* Pap Smear
Symptoms
The symptoms of Uterine Cancer may be associated with less severe medical problems such as benign tumors or urinary tract infections. However, these symptoms should be discussed with your physician. These symptoms include:
* Any abnormal vaginal discharge without visible blood.* Unusual vaginal bleeding after menopause or bleeding that is not part of the menstrual cycle.
* Pain in the pelvic area or lower abdomen.
* A feeling of fullness in the pelvic area.
Is it curable?
The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. The overall 5-year survival rate for patients with Endometrial Cancer is 84%. The prognosis for individual patients depends on the stage, health, and circumstances of each patient. While Uterine Sarcoma has a significantly lower survival rate (stage I 5-year survival rate of 50%), it occurs much less frequently.