1. The Fourth Most Common Cancer in Women
Every year, 40,000 American women hear they have endometrial cancer. The disease begins in the lining of a woman's uterus, usually between ages 60 and 70. Some people broadly refer to endometrial cancer as uterine cancer.
2. The Symptoms are Hard to Ignore
Unusual vaginal bleeding is typically the first sign of endometrial cancer. This is usually easy to spot because most women diagnosed are postmenopausal and their periods have stopped. Thankfully, women who still have regular cycles have other noticeable symptoms to look for. Pain during sex, weight loss and a pink or white discharge can all be signs of endometrial cancer. These symptoms usually aren't subtle and most cases of endometrial cancer surface before it reaches an advanced stage.
3. Stages of Severity
Endometrial cancer can spread to other parts of your body. To determine the severity of your cancer, doctors diagnose in stages. If cancer is only in your uterus, endometrial cancer is stage 1. Stage 2 endometrial cancer means that it has spread to your cervix, but not outside the pelvic region. Stage 3 is a sign that your pelvic lymph nodes carry the cancer. The most advanced stage, stage 4, means the cancer is out of the pelvic region, affecting your bladder and rectum. A gynecologic oncologist specializes in female reproductive system cancers. She will conduct tests like CT scans and X-rays to determine if the cancer has spread.
4. Surgery Offers Hope
Because the cancer originates in your uterus, a hysterectomy is one treatment option. However, some doctors like to remove more than just the uterus. Removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and lymph nodes often provide the best treatment for endometrial cancer. In addition to surgery, you may need radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy. These are only necessary if your cancer is aggressive or if it spread to other areas of your body.
5. Most Women Survive and Thrive
Because most cases of endometrial cancer are caught early, your chances of survival are great. In fact, most women go on to live a normal life, minus their uterus. A large majority of the time (90%) endometrial cancer is successfully treated. In cases where the cancer spreads outside the uterus before detection, the survival rate isn't as promising. About 7,000 women die in the United States every year of endometrial cancer. Most of these are stage 4 endometrial cancer patients.
