Uterine Cancer
Facts, Symptoms and Risk Factors
Uterine Cancer Facts and Statistics
Uterine cancer includes two main types of cancer: Endometrial Cancer and Uterine Sarcoma. Endometrial Cancer is cancer that arises in the lining of the uterus (or endometrium). Over 90% of all uterine cancer cases are endometrial cancer, so the terms “uterine cancer” and “endometrial cancer” are often used interchangeably. Uterine Sarcoma, a much rarer form of uterine cancer, is cancer that forms in the muscles of the uterus or other tissues that support the uterus. Uterine sarcoma is more aggressive and harder to treat than endometrial cancer.
Uterine cancer is the most common type of gynecologic cancer and the 4th most common cancer for women in the United States. Overall, 80.8.% of women live 5 or more years after a uterine cancer diagnosis. Despite similar diagnosis rates, 5-year survival is lower in black versus white women (62% vs 83%). Uterine cancer is one of the few cancers with increasing annual diagnoses and deaths.
Uterine Cancer Symptoms
- Vaginal bleeding, spotting, or brownish discharge after menopause
- Irregular or heavy bleeding in younger women
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- Symptoms common in later stages:
- Feeling a mass in the pelvis
- Losing weight without trying
- Less common symptoms:
- Difficult or painful urination
- Pain during intercourse
Risk Factors For Uterine Cancer
- OBESITY: Obesity can increase uterine cancer risk; uterine cancer is three times more common among obese women than those at a healthier weight.
- AGE: Uterine cancer risk increases with age.
- FAMILY HISTORY: If several family members have/had uterine cancer, your healthcare professional may recommend genetic testing.
- GENETICS: Lynch syndrome is a hereditary cancer syndrome that is linked to an increase in uterine cancer. The lifetime risk of developing uterine cancer for women with Lynch syndrome is 40% to 60%.
- NUTRITION & DIET: Diets high in fat can increase risk.
- MENSTRUAL HISTORY: Women who begin menstruation before age 12 or reach menopause after age 55 have a higher risk.
- REPRODUCTIVE HISTORY: Women who have never been pregnant, or those who cannot get pregnant, are at higher risk.
- HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (HRT): Taking estrogen alone, without progestin, can increase risk.
- TAMOXIFEN USE: Tamoxifen, which is often used to treat breast cancer, can slightly increase the risk of developing uterine cancer.
- EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS: These can include Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), Type II diabetes and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH).
Uterine Cancer and Genetics
- Genetic counseling is generally recommended before testing for hereditary cancer syndrome. Counseling is also generally offered after the test to provide support and information, especially if a positive result is found. This counseling should be performed by a trained genetic counselor or other healthcare professional with experience in cancer genetics.
- Genetic testing looks for specific inherited changes (variants) in a person’s genes. These variants can have good, bad, or no effect on disease risk; in some cases, the effect is uncertain or unknown. Certain harmful variants in specific genes are known to be associated with an increased risk for developing cancer. These inherited variants are thought to be a factor in about 5% to 10% of all cancers.
Lynch Syndrome
- Lynch syndrome is a hereditary cancer syndrome previously known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).
- People with Lynch syndrome are more likely to get colorectal cancer and other cancers before age 50, including endometrial cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.
- Lynch syndrome is among the most common hereditary cancer syndromes, and is responsible for about 3% of endometrial cancers.
- The lifetime cumulative risk of endometrial cancer for women with Lynch syndrome is approximately 40% to 60%.
- Women diagnosed with Lynch syndrome can undergo gynecologic surveillance to allow early detection of endometrial cancer. Women who have completed childbearing can undergo prophylactic surgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy) as well as ovaries and fallopian tubes (salpingo-oophorectomy).
- Women with Lynch syndrome should also undergo surveillance for other Lynch syndrome-associated cancers, including colorectal cancer.
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