Endometrial cancer is cancer that forms in the tissue that lines the uterus. The uterus is a small, pear-shaped organ that is located in the lower pelvic area of a woman. The uterus is the organ in a woman's body where a baby grows.
It is estimated that in 2008, there will be about 40,100 new cases of endometrial cancer diagnosed, and that there will be about 7,470 deaths caused by endometrial cancer. One is too many, but these numbers show a dramatic decrease in new cases of endometrial cancer as well as deaths from it over the last several years.
Science is making progress and learning more about the causes of endometrial cancer. Scientists are exploring new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat the disease. Research has helped to improve patients' quality of life and decrease the chance of dying from endometrial cancer - and more progress is being made all the time.
There are several benign conditions of the uterus that often cause great fear in women:
Fibroids: Fibroids do not develop into cancer. They grow in the muscle of the uterus. Most often fibroids occur in women who are in their 40s. Fibroids usually just disappear after menopause.
Endometriosis: This is a condition in which endometrial tissue begins to grow on the outside of the uterus and on nearby organs. It most often occurs in women in their 30s and 40s who have never been pregnant. Endometriosis can cause a great many problems, but cancer isn't one of them.
Endometrial hyperplasia: Heavy menstrual periods, bleeding between periods, and bleeding after menopause are the most common symptoms of hyperplasia. Endometrial hyperplasia is not cancer, but it can develop into cancer.
All problems associated with the uterus are not cancer - the odds are that when you experience problems, it is NOT cancer.