Uterine Cancer (=Endometrial Cancer)

Introduction:

Uterine cancer or endometrial cancer (as doctors call it) is the most common genital cancer in women. Although it represents about half of the genital cancers in women, it is responsible only for about 1/5 th of all the deaths regardinig female genital cancers. The reason for this is that this cancer arises from the lining of the uterus and vaginal bleeding as a symptom occurs at a much earlier stage than with cancer of the cervix. The patient sees a physician in about 90% of all cases of uterine cancer, so that the cancer is caught at an early stage when it is still confined to the uterus. As will be outlined below, in early cases of uterine cancer hysterectomy can achieve 5-year cure rates of 90%. Sadly, later stages are less fortunate.

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you.

References:

1. Cancer: Principles &Practice of Oncology.4th edition. Edited by Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. et al. Lippincott, Philadelphia,PA, 1993. Vol. 1. Chapter on gynecological tumors.

2. Cancer: Principles&Practice of Oncology. 5th edition, volume 1. Edited by Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. et al. Lippincott-Raven Publ., Philadelphia,PA, 1997. Chapter on gynecological tumors.

3. B. Sears: "The age-free zone". Regan Books, Harper Collins, 2000.

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6. DB Fournier et al. Gynecol Oncol 2001 Jun;81(3):366-372.

7. DS McMeekin et al. Gynecol Oncol 2001 May;81(2):273-278.

8. LA Katz et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001 May;184(6):1071-1073.

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11. Conn's Current Therapy 2004, 56th ed., Copyright © 2004 Elsevier

12. Ferri: Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment, 2004 ed., Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc

Last Modified: Nov. 29, 2008