Uterine cancer

Request an appointment

Uterine cancer is one of the most common women’s reproductive cancers. Women have a 3.1% lifetime risk of being diagnosed with uterine cancer. Aurora BayCare’s gynecologic oncology experts work with you to find the cause of your symptoms and plan treatments that meet your needs. In case you need surgery, we use minimally invasive techniques when possible to minimize pain and recovery time.

What does uterine cancer feel like?

Uterine cancer may cause feelings of pain during intercourse, pain during urination, or pain, pressure or fullness in your lower belly.

In its early stages, uterine cancer may not have any signs or symptoms.

Uterine cancer symptoms

Abnormal vaginal bleeding is usually the first sign of uterine cancer and other women’s reproductive cancers such as vaginal cancer. This could include bleeding that occurs unrelated to your menstrual cycle or after menopause.

Other potential uterine cancer symptoms may overlap with symptoms of other conditions such as uterine fibroids. To be sure, visit your family practice doctor or OB-GYN if you notice:

  • Abnormal vaginal discharge
  • Lump or mass in the pelvis (lower abdomen)
  • Trouble with urination
  • Unexplained weight loss
Image shows several risk factors for uterine cancer, including older age, high blood pressure, obesity, family history of uterine cancer, history of infertility or irregular periods, early menstruation and late menopause, not been pregnant or no children, hormone therapy for breast cancer, and diabetes.
Various risk factors affect your likelihood of being diagnosed with uterine cancer.

Risk factors for uterine cancer

You may be more at risk of getting uterine cancer if you have a family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer or colorectal cancer. Having diabetes or obesity also increases your risk. Other risk factors include:

  • Being older than 50
  • Being White
  • Early age of first menstruation or late onset of menopause
  • Having estrogen replacement therapy with no progesterone
  • Having polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
  • History of endometrial hyperplasia
  • Having taken the drug tamoxifen to prevent or treat breast cancer
  • Being young and having abnormal ovulation and menstruation patterns

Types of uterine cancer

There are two types of uterine cancer. The most common type is endometrial cancer, which grows in the lining of the uterus (endometrium). The terms endometrial cancer and uterine cancer are often used to mean the same thing. About 95% of uterine cancer cases are endometrial cancer.

Another type of uterine cancer, uterine sarcoma, is rare. It grows in the muscle cells (myometrium) in the uterus and is usually harder to treat than endometrial cancer.

Diagnosis of uterine cancer

When you see your doctor, they’ll perform a physical exam, ask about your symptoms and order diagnostic testing. They’ll need to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. Some of the tests they may request are:

  • CA-125 test is a blood test that looks for higher levels of a substance that could indicate the presence of cancer.
  • Dilation and curettage (D&C) uses an instrument to gather uterine cells for further testing.
  • Endometrial biopsy uses a flexible tube inserted into the uterus through the cervix to collect a tiny portion of tissue from the lining of the uterus. The cells are examined under a microscope. If you have risk factors for uterine cancer, your doctor may recommend a yearly endometrial biopsy.
  • Hysteroscopy uses a tiny scope inserted into the uterus through the cervix, which helps your doctor see anything abnormal inside your uterus.
  • Transvaginal ultrasound uses an ultrasound device inserted into your vagina. The device produces sound waves that create an image of your uterus to check for a growth.

After a diagnosis of uterine cancer is confirmed, imaging tests may be performed to check if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

  • CT scan not only confirms the presence of a tumor but also can show its location and size and whether it has spread to nearby tissue.
  • MRI produces images that help doctors determine whether a tumor is cancerous or noncancerous.
  • Chest X-ray can show whether uterine cancer has spread to the lungs.
  • PET scan uses a specific dye injected into a vein. The scan can identify cancer cells because they absorb the dye.
  • Cystoscopy or proctoscopy provide images to see if cancer has spread to the urethra, bladder or rectum.

Your doctor may also order genetic testing to help determine if your cancer is related to a genetic mutation and to guide treatment decisions.

Uterine cancer treatments & services

Your uterine cancer treatment will depend on the size and location of your cancer as well as on your overall health. You may receive some combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or hormone therapy.

Our Multidisciplinary Cancer Clinic enables all your caregivers to meet and discuss your treatment plan as a team. And if you need to meet with more than one specialist, you’ll be able to see them all in one day.

Surgical treatments for uterine cancer

In some cases, we may be able to use minimally invasive surgery to remove just the tumor or selected lymph nodes using tiny incisions in the abdomen. The surgeon is able to insert a viewing scope, camera and special surgical instruments through the incisions to perform precise surgery.

Hysterectomy surgery involves removing your affected reproductive organs. Your surgeon may recommend one of these types of hysterectomy:

  • Simple hysterectomy to remove the uterus and cervix
  • Total hysterectomy to remove the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries
  • Radical hysterectomy to remove the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries and tissue around the uterus and cervix

If your ovaries are removed, you’ll be in menopause. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have and how to manage menopausal symptoms.

Nonsurgical treatments for uterine cancer

Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may be recommended for use before surgery to try to reduce the size of a tumor. Or they may be recommended after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells.

If testing shows that your tumor grows more in response to some hormones, your doctor may recommend hormone therapy, which uses injections or pills to slow the growth of endometrial cancer cells by blocking hormones in the body.

Clinical trials for uterine cancer

We offer access to clinical trials being performed by us or by other entities. Check with your doctor to see if there are available clinical trials that will complement your treatment.

Preserving your fertility

Some treatments for uterine cancer may affect your fertility, especially surgery. Talk to your doctor about whether you want to explore fertility treatments to protect your ability to become a parent.

Request an appointment

Learn more about women’s cancer treatment options at Aurora BayCare. Request an appointment with a uterine cancer specialist.