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In cancer of the uterus, also called endometrial cancer, cancer cells are present in the inner lining of the uterus. The inner lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. Normally, the endometrium undergoes a series of changes during a woman's monthly menstrual cycle, in preparation for a potential pregnancy. The ovaries release hormones that initiate these changes. If pregnancy does not occur, the endometrial lining is shed during menstruation. A very small percentage of endometrial cancers grow in the muscular and connective tissues of the uterus. These tumors are called uterine sarcomas.

In the United States, cancer of the endometrium is the most common cancer of the female reproductive organs. The American Cancer Society estimates that 37,400 new cases of endometrial cancer will be diagnosed during 1999. About 6,400 women in the United States die each year from endometrial. When all cases of endometrial cancer are considered, the five-year survival rate is 84 percent. Survival rates are even higher when the disease is discovered and treated in its earliest stage, thus it is vital that women visit their physicians annually for a pelvic exam.

External Resources: American Cancer Society. Endometrial Cancer Resource Center. Homesley HD, Zaino R. Endometrial Cancer: prognostic factors. Seminars in Oncology. 1994;21(1):71-78. National Cancer Institute. CancerNet Database. Treatment summaries. Endometrial Cancer. PDQ 9/99. National Cancer Institute NIH Publication No.98-1562. Revised September 1997.

This article was published on 1999-11-16
This article was reviewed on 2003-02-03