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General Information About Endometrial Cancer
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Endometrial cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer)
cells form in the tissues of the endometrium.
The endometrium is the
innermost lining of the uterus. The uterus is
a hollow, muscular organ in a
woman's pelvis. The uterus is where a fetus grows. In most nonpregnant
women, the uterus is about 3 inches long.
Cancer of the endometrium
is different from cancer of the muscle of the uterus, which is called
uterine sarcoma. See the PDQ summary on Uterine Sarcoma
Treatment for more information.
In the United States, endometrial cancer is the most common invasive cancer of the
female reproductive system.
Endometrial cancer occurs more often in white women than in
black women. When endometrial cancer is diagnosed in black women, it is usually more advanced and less likely to be cured.
The number of new cases of endometrial cancer in the United States decreased from 1978 to 1988 and has stayed about the same since then. The number of deaths from endometrial cancer has decreased since 1974.
Health history and certain medicines can affect the risk of
developing endometrial cancer.
Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease
is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will not get cancer. People who think they may be at risk should discuss this with their doctor. Risk factors for endometrial cancer include the
following:
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