Uterine cancer

Uterine cancer
Other names	Womb cancer
Diagram of uterus with labeled origins of cancer types.
Specialty	Gynecology, oncology
Symptoms	Endometrial cancer: vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain[1] Uterine sarcoma: vaginal bleeding, mass in the vagina[2]
Types	Endometrial cancer, uterine sarcoma[3]
Risk factors	Endometrial cancer: obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, tamoxifen use, unopposed estrogens, late menopause, family history of the condition[1] Uterine sarcoma: radiation therapy to the pelvis[2]
Treatment	Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy[1][2]
Frequency	3.8 million (2015)[4]
Deaths	90,000 (2015)[5]

Uterine cancer, also known as womb cancer, includes two types of cancer that develop from the tissues of the uterus.^[3] Endometrial cancer forms from the lining of the uterus, and uterine sarcoma forms from the muscles or support tissue of the uterus.^[1][2] Endometrial cancer accounts for approximately 90% of all uterine cancers in the United States.^[6] Symptoms of endometrial cancer include changes in vaginal bleeding or pain in the pelvis.^[1] Symptoms of uterine sarcoma include unusual vaginal bleeding or a mass in the vagina.^[2]

Risk factors for endometrial cancer include obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, taking pills that contain estrogen without progesterone, a history of tamoxifen use, late menopause, and a family history of the condition.^[7][1] Risk factors for uterine sarcoma include prior radiation therapy to the pelvis.^[2] Diagnosis of endometrial cancer is typically based on an endometrial biopsy.^[1] A diagnosis of uterine sarcoma may be suspected based on symptoms, a pelvic exam, and medical imaging.^[2]

Endometrial cancer can often be cured while uterine sarcoma typically is harder to treat.^[3] Treatment may include a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy.^[1][2] Just over 80% of women survive more than 5 years following diagnosis.^[8]

In 2015 about 3.8 million women were affected globally and it resulted in 90,000 deaths.^[4][5] Endometrial cancer is relatively common while uterine sarcomas are rare.^[3] In the United States, uterine cancers represent 3.5% of new cancer cases.^[8] They most commonly occur in women between the ages of 45 and 74 with a median age of diagnosis of 63.^[8]