Cancer of the Uterus
What should people know about cancer of the uterus?
The uterus or womb is a pear shaped organ in a woman's abdomen between the bladder and the rectum. The uterus is the part of the female reproductive system where a baby develops. It consists of the cervix (mouth of the uterus) and the corpus (body). Most uterine cancers develop in the endometrium, the cells that line the corpus. The information provided below only refers to cancer of the uterine corpus (body), not the cervix.
In New York State, cancer of the uterus is the fourth most common cancer among women. Each year, about 3500 women are diagnosed with this disease and over 600 die from uterine cancer in New York. Currently, there is no accurate, cost effective method for screening for cancer of the uterus. However, if it is detected and treated early, chances of survival are very high. Mortality rates of cancer of the uterus have fallen about 60% since the 1950s.
Who gets cancer of the uterus?
Cancer of the uterus is rare before age 45. The incidence of uterine cancer rises sharply between the ages of 45 and 65. Uterine cancer also occurs more frequently among white women than African-American women. During the 1970s, there was a peak in the incidence of uterine cancer. This peak may be linked to the use of high dose hormone replacement therapy without progesterone by women experiencing menopause.
What causes cancer of the uterus?
At this time, scientists do not know exactly what causes cancer of the uterus. But we do know that certain personal characteristics increase a woman's chances of developing uterine cancer.
Cancer of the uterus has some of the same risk factors as breast cancer. These include never having given birth, having few children, and late age at menopause. Other factors that may be associated with increased uterine cancer risk include obesity, use of hormone replacement therapy without progesterone, and possibly a diet high in fat.
What does it mean when something "is associated with" cancer of the uterus?
It means that there is a link between the two, but there is no proof of cause and effect. More research needs to be done before we know for certain.
What can I do to reduce my chances of getting cancer of the uterus?
Currently, uterine cancer cannot be prevented. A routine annual pelvic exam by your health care provider is one way to increase the chance of early detection. In addition, women considering the use of hormone replacement therapy to treat the symptoms of menopause should talk with their health care providers about including progesterone in their treatment.
Cancer of the Uterus Signs and Symptoms
- Unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge
- Difficult or painful urination
- Pain during intercourse
- Pain in the pelvic (abdominal) area
Terms
- Cervix
- the neck of the uterus; the place where the uterus meets and enters the vagina.
- Corpus
- the body or main part of the uterus.
- Endometrium
- the cells lining the uterus.
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- the use of hormone pills to replace estrogen and other hormones after menopause. These hormones reduce symptoms of menopause (such as hot flashes) and may decrease the risk of osteoporosis (brittle bones).
- Incidence
- the number of newly diagnosed cases of a disease. Here it refers to the number of newly diagnosed cases of cancer.
- Menopause
- the ceasing of menses; the time when a woman's reproductive ability ends.
- Progesterone
- a hormone that helps regulate the menstrual cycle, it may be part of hormone replacement therapy.
- Screening
- a medical procedure or test for people who do not have symptoms of a disease. The procedure or test does not tell you if you have the disease, but will tell you if you need more tests to determine if you do.
