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Clinical Description
Endometrial cancer is a cancer that forms in the tissue lining the uterus, usually occurring after menopause. It is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States; in 2010, approximately 43,470 new cases are diagnosed and 7950 deaths occur. Women have a 2.5 percent lifetime risk of developing endometrial cancer.
Symptoms of Endometrial Cancer
· Vaginal bleeding after menopause
· Abnormal vaginal discharge
Risk Factors of Endometrial Cancer
· Age. Endometrial Cancer occurs mostly in post-menopausal women.
· Race. White women are more likely than African-American women to get endometrial cancer.
· Hormone replacement therapy. Women who use estrogen without progesterone have an increased risk of endometrial cancer.
· Long-term estrogen exposure. Women who have never been pregnant, begin menstruation at a very young age, or enter menopause late in life have a higher risk.
· Tamoxifen treatment
· Obesity
How Endometrial Cancer is Diagnosed
· Your doctor may use transvaginal ultrasound to look for abnormalities in the lining of the uterus.
· Your doctor may perform an endometrial biopsy in the office to collect tissue from inside the uterus. A pathologist will check the sample for cancer cells.
· If enough tissue can't be obtained during a biopsy or if the biopsy is not conclusive, you may undergo a dilation and curettage and/or hysteroscopy. This is done in an operating room under anesthesia.
Treatment Options for Endometrial Cancer at Tufts Medical Center
Surgery: The doctor usually removes the uterus (hysterectomy), both fallopian tubes and both ovaries (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy).
Radiation Therapy: High-dose X-rays are used to kill the cancer cells. There are two types of radiation – vaginal brachytherapy (internal) and external beam radiation therapy (outside the body).
Chemotherapy: Your doctor may use one or a combination of drugs to kill the cancer cells.
Hormonal Therapy: You are more likely to respond to progestin pills if progesterone receptors (hormone receptors) are present in the tumor tissue.
Clinical Trials Available for Patients
Our patients have access to novel therapies through participation in both Tufts Medical Center clinical trials and national clinical trials.
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Our Experts
More information about Tufts Medical Center’s Gynecology Oncology Program and our expert medical resources
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