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This topic provides information about the initial testing, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer of the lining of the uterus, endometrial cancer. Other types of uterine cancer are more rare and are not discussed in this topic.

If you are looking for information about cancer of the cervix, see the topic Cervical Cancer.

What is endometrial cancer?

Endometrial cancer is the rapid and uncontrolled growth of cells in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. The uterus is the hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman’s abdomen. Endometrial cancer usually occurs in women older than 50. Fortunately, it is highly curable if detected at an early stage when the cancer is still contained in the uterus. Most women with endometrial cancer are diagnosed in the earliest stage, and up to 93% of these women are cancer-free 5 years after treatment.¹

What causes endometrial cancer?

The cause of endometrial cancer is currently unknown. Exposure to the hormone estrogen over many years without enough of the hormone progesterone to balance it (unopposed estrogen) appears to be related to the development of endometrial cancer.²

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptom is abnormal vaginal bleeding after menopause. About 20% of women who have abnormal bleeding after menopause have endometrial cancer.³

If endometrial cancer is more advanced, additional symptoms may be present. These include difficulty urinating, a lump in the pelvic area, pain in the pelvic area, and weight loss.

What increases my risk of developing endometrial cancer?

Being exposed to estrogen for years without progesterone to balance it (unopposed estrogen) appears to be the greatest risk factor for developing endometrial cancer. Long-term exposure to unopposed estrogen may occur as a result of:

• Beginning your menstrual cycle before age 12 or starting menopause after age 55.
• Not ever being pregnant or completing a full-term pregnancy.
• Not ever breast-feeding.
• Using hormone replacement therapy without progesterone.
• Being obese. Fat cells produce estrogen. Obese women have many fat cells, which increases the rate of estrogen production.

Additional factors that increase your risk include:

• Taking tamoxifen, a breast cancer medication that acts like estrogen in the uterus.³
• Being older than 50.
• Having a history of breast, ovarian, or colon cancer.
• Having endometrial hyperplasia.
• Having a family history of endometrial cancer or hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC).

How is endometrial cancer diagnosed?

Endometrial cancer is usually diagnosed with an endometrial biopsy. A biopsy removes a small sample of the lining of the uterus for examination under a microscope.

Your doctor will determine the stage of your endometrial cancer, or how far advanced it is, by gathering information from a variety of tests, including blood tests, bone scans, and X-rays. The stage of your cancer is one of the most important factors in selecting the treatment option that is right for you.

How is it treated?

Endometrial cancer in its early stages can be cured with treatment and close follow-up. The primary treatment for endometrial cancer is surgery (hysterectomy) to remove the uterus, cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Pelvic lymph nodes may also be removed. Other treatments may be used depending on the stage of cancer and whether you are at high risk of having the cancer return. These treatments include radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy.

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