Endometrial Cancer
What is Endometrial Cancer?
Endometrial cancer is cancer that starts in the lining of the uterus. The uterine lining is called the endometrium. This type of cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system in the United States.
The endometrium grows and sheds each month during the menstrual cycle. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone control this process. When these hormones get out of balance, the endometrium can grow too much. Over time, this overgrowth can turn into cancer cells.
Most endometrial cancers are found early because they cause abnormal bleeding. When caught early, treatment is often successful. Understanding your hormone levels can help identify risk before cancer develops.
Symptoms
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting after menopause
- Heavy or prolonged bleeding during periods
- Bleeding between periods
- Unusual vaginal discharge that may be watery or blood-tinged
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- Pain during sex
- Unexplained weight loss
- Feeling a mass or lump in the pelvic area
Early endometrial cancer often causes noticeable bleeding symptoms. Women after menopause should always report any vaginal bleeding to their doctor. Some women with hormone imbalances may have no symptoms at first but still have increased risk.
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Causes and risk factors
Endometrial cancer develops when cells in the uterine lining grow out of control. The main cause is too much estrogen without enough progesterone to balance it. Estrogen tells the endometrium to grow. Progesterone helps regulate that growth and causes regular shedding. When estrogen levels stay high without progesterone, cells can grow abnormally and become cancerous.
Risk factors include obesity, never having been pregnant, starting periods early, going through menopause late, polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes, and taking estrogen without progesterone. Age is also a factor, with most cases occurring after age 50. Family history of endometrial or colon cancer increases risk. Lifestyle factors like diet and exercise affect hormone levels and can influence cancer risk.
How it's diagnosed
Doctors diagnose endometrial cancer through several steps. First, they review symptoms and medical history. A pelvic exam checks for abnormalities. Transvaginal ultrasound creates images of the uterus to measure the thickness of the endometrium. If the lining looks thick or abnormal, the doctor performs an endometrial biopsy. This involves taking a small tissue sample from the uterine lining to check for cancer cells under a microscope.
Blood tests can measure hormone levels that affect endometrial cancer risk. Rite Aid offers testing for estrogen and progesterone, two key hormones that control uterine lining growth. High estrogen with low progesterone creates a hormonal imbalance that increases cancer risk. Monitoring these levels helps identify women who may benefit from preventive measures or closer screening. Regular testing at Quest Diagnostics locations makes hormone monitoring convenient and accessible.
Treatment options
- Surgery to remove the uterus, often the first treatment for endometrial cancer
- Radiation therapy to kill cancer cells using high-energy beams
- Chemotherapy medications to destroy cancer cells throughout the body
- Hormone therapy using progesterone to slow cancer cell growth
- Maintaining healthy weight through balanced nutrition and regular exercise
- Managing conditions like diabetes and PCOS that affect hormone balance
- Regular monitoring of estrogen and progesterone levels if at high risk
- Working with an oncologist who specializes in gynecologic cancers
- Considering clinical trials for advanced or recurrent cases
Need testing for Endometrial Cancer? Add it to your panel.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Abnormal vaginal bleeding is the most common symptom, especially bleeding after menopause. Any vaginal bleeding after menopause should be evaluated by a doctor right away. Women who have not gone through menopause may notice unusually heavy periods or bleeding between periods.
High estrogen levels without enough progesterone increase risk significantly. Estrogen makes the uterine lining grow, while progesterone regulates that growth. When this balance tips toward too much estrogen, cells in the lining can grow abnormally. Measuring these hormones through blood tests helps identify women at higher risk.
Blood tests cannot directly detect endometrial cancer, but they can measure hormone levels that affect risk. Testing estrogen and progesterone levels identifies hormonal imbalances that make cancer more likely. Women with high estrogen and low progesterone may benefit from preventive measures and closer monitoring. A tissue biopsy is needed to actually diagnose cancer.
Women over 50 face the highest risk, especially after menopause. Obesity increases risk because fat tissue produces estrogen. Never having been pregnant, having PCOS, or taking estrogen without progesterone also raises risk. Women with family history of endometrial or colon cancer should discuss screening with their doctor.
Frequency depends on your individual risk factors and symptoms. Women with PCOS, obesity, or irregular periods may benefit from annual testing. Those taking hormone replacement therapy should monitor levels regularly. Talk to your doctor about testing frequency based on your personal health history.
Yes, several lifestyle changes can lower risk significantly. Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise helps balance hormones. Regular physical activity reduces estrogen levels and improves insulin sensitivity. Eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains supports healthy hormone metabolism. These changes work by addressing the root causes of hormonal imbalance.
This pattern indicates estrogen dominance, a hormonal imbalance that increases endometrial cancer risk. Without enough progesterone to balance estrogen, your uterine lining may grow too much. This condition can also cause heavy periods, mood changes, and weight gain. Your doctor may recommend progesterone therapy, lifestyle changes, or closer monitoring.
Yes, early-stage endometrial cancer has very high cure rates, often above 90 percent. Most cases are found early because abnormal bleeding prompts women to see their doctor. Surgery to remove the uterus is usually successful when cancer has not spread. This is why reporting any unusual bleeding right away is so important.
Yes, family history increases your risk and makes testing more important. You should discuss genetic testing and regular screening with your doctor. Monitoring hormone levels can help identify early risk factors. Some families carry genetic mutations like Lynch syndrome that greatly increase cancer risk and require special screening protocols.
While you cannot eliminate risk completely, you can reduce it substantially. Women with PCOS often have high estrogen and low progesterone, creating higher risk. Managing PCOS through weight loss, exercise, and medication helps balance hormones. Regular hormone testing lets you track whether your interventions are working. Some doctors prescribe progesterone to protect the uterine lining.