HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury

Cancer of the uterus

  

The uterus, also called the womb, is a muscular bag in your body where an unborn baby can grow and develop. Cancer of the uterus is the most common cancer that affects the female reproductive system. It's also called uterine cancer or endometrial cancer. Read more about different types of cancer of the uterus.

Cancer of the uterus is usually diagnosed early and treated successfully.

Risk factors for cancer of the uterus

We do not know exactly why some people get cancer of the uterus, but there are some risk factors that increase your chances of getting it. They include:

• age – your risk increases with age
• being overweight
• never having been pregnant or given birth
• having endometrial hyperplasia, where the lining of the uterus becomes thick. It's not cancer but raises your risk of developing it
• having diabetes
• taking tamoxifen to treat breast cancer – however, the benefits of preventing breast cancer outweigh the risks of taking tamoxifen. If you have any concerns, talk to your GP
• having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• taking menopause hormone therapy (MHT)
• having Māori or Pacific ethnicity.

Symptoms of cancer of the uterus

The most common sign of cancer of the uterus is vaginal bleeding that is unusual or irregular for you. See your GP if:

• You've been through menopause and get unexpected vaginal bleeding. Most bleeding after menopause is not caused by cancer of the uterus but it's important to see your GP and find out what is causing it. It could be cervical polyps or thinning of your vaginal walls caused by hormonal changes (atrophic vaginitis).
• You're not menopausal yet and you have unusual or irregular bleeding, such as periods that are heavier than usual, or bleeding between periods.
• You take tamoxifen to treat breast cancer and you get any unexpected vaginal bleeding or changes to your periods.
• You experience pain during sex, or when weeing (passing urine), or lower tummy pain. These symptoms are less common.

See your GP if you have any symptoms that worry you. It's important that any changes are investigated early.

Diagnosing cancer of the uterus

Your doctor will do a pelvic examination. To do this, they will insert two lubricated gloved fingers into your vagina, then press gently on the outside of your lower tummy with their other hand. This lets them feel your uterus, ovaries and other pelvic organs. They may also look at your cervix using an instrument called a speculum, which they put in your vagina.

Your doctor might suggest having a cervical screening test if it's been more than three months since your last one.

If your doctor refers you to a hospital specialist, they may do some other tests. These could include a transvaginal ultrasound scan, when a specially designed ultrasound probe is put inside the lower part of your vagina to get images of your uterus, and to check how thick its wall lining is. If the scan shows any changes to the lining, then the specialist will take a small sample of cells (a biopsy) taken. This will be done either as a pipelle biopsy or with a hysteroscopy.

Treating cancer of the uterus

If the tests show you have cancer of the uterus, the treatment will depend on the type and size of the cancer and whether it has spread. It may include surgery such as removing your uterus (a hysterectomy). Other treatments may include chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

After your treatment is finished your specialist will discuss how often you need check-ups. They will also give you information on how to look out for specific symptoms or side effects.

If you have any questions it's important to discuss them with your specialist. Your healthcare team can also give you advice and emotional support.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Cancer Society of New Zealand:
  • Treatment of Uterus Cancer

    Information about cancer of the uterus, diagnosis and treatment.

  • Cancer of the uterus

    This 57-page booklet has comprehensive information on cancer of the uterus, its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and the after-effects of treatment.

    It includes some information in Māori.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed September 2021.

Sources

Page reference: 58481

Review key: HIEND-30280