Health Library Explorer
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A-Z Listings Contact Us

Endometrial Cancer: Introduction

Female reproductive anatomy
Click to Enlarge

What is cancer?

Cancer is when cells in the body change and grow out of control. To help you understand what happens when you have cancer, let’s look at how your body works normally. Your body is made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Normal cells grow when your body needs them, and they die when your body does not need them any longer.

Cancer is made up of abnormal cells that grow even though your body doesn’t need them. In most cancers, the abnormal cells grow to form a lump or mass called a tumor. If cancer cells are in the body long enough, they can grow into (invade) nearby areas. They can also break off and spread to other parts of the body (metastasis).

What is endometrial cancer?

Endometrial cancer starts in the cells that form the inner lining of the uterus (which is called the endometrium).

You may hear endometrial cancer called uterine cancer. It's actually one of two main types of uterine cancer. The other is called uterine sarcoma. It starts in the muscle layer of the uterus, not the lining.

Endometrial cancer is the most common type of cancer in the uterus. It usually takes years to develop. It most often occurs in women who have already gone through menopause. It is highly curable when found early.

Understanding the uterus

The uterus is an organ. It’s part of the female reproductive system. You may know it as the womb. The uterus is usually pear-shaped and about the size of a fist. It is located in the lower belly (pelvic area) between your bladder and your rectum. Your uterus is connected to your fallopian tubes. These tubes help carry eggs from your ovaries into the uterus. The small opening that connects the uterus to your vagina is the cervix.

The uterus is made up of three layers:

  • Endometrium. This is the inner lining.

  • Myometrium. This is the middle muscle layer.

  • Serosa. This is the outer smooth layer.

The uterus protects a growing baby during pregnancy. During labor, the myometrium muscle tissue helps push the baby out through the cervix. The smooth serosa makes it easy for the uterus to move in the pelvis as needed.

Understanding the endometrium

In women who still have their periods, one of the ovaries releases an egg into a fallopian tube each month. During this time, the endometrium becomes thicker as it gets ready to receive a fertilized egg. If the egg connects with a male sperm cell, this fertilized egg attaches to the endometrium. If the egg is not fertilized, it travels out of the uterus along with the endometrial lining as a woman's period (menstrual flow).

How endometrial cancer spreads

If endometrial cancer spreads, it tends to grow into the muscle layer of the uterus, the myometrium, and then may go to places near the uterus. This may be the fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix, vagina, or lymph nodes. It can also spread to the bladder or rectum. Advanced stages of endometrial cancer can spread as far as the bones and lungs. Most cases of endometrial cancer are found in the early stages before they have spread outside the uterus.

Cancer that spreads to other parts of the body is called metastatic cancer. The process is called metastasis. Metastasis is a complex process. The cancer cells of the tumor grow into other tissues, blood vessels, and the lymph system. They then travel through the bloodstream or lymph system to reach other parts of the body where they grow into new tumors.

Talk with your healthcare provider

If you have questions about endometrial cancer, talk with your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can help you understand more about this cancer.

 

Online Medical Reviewer: Donna Freeborn PhD CNM FNP
Online Medical Reviewer: Howard Goodman MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Louise Cunningham RN BSN
Date Last Reviewed: 8/1/2023
© 2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare provider's instructions.
Contact Our Health Professionals
Follow Us
Powered by StayWell
About StayWell | Disclaimer | Terms of Use

Our web site is designed to provide general information to educate users about programs and services, which may be available through our hospitals. The web site is not intended to provide medical advice nor should the information be used to attempt to determine the presence, absence or severity of any illness or medical condition which may be perceived or experienced by the user of this site. If you have or suspect you may have an illness or condition which you believe requires medical attention, we recommend you call your primary care physician. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency please call "911" (or your local medical emergency number) or seek immediate care from the nearest hospital Emergency Department. The provision of information to users of this web site is not intended as an inducement or to otherwise influence a person's decision to order or receive any item or service from a particular provider, practitioner or supplier that is reimbursable under Medicare, a state healthcare program (e.g., AHCCS) or any other healthcare plan.

Physicians are members of the medical staff at each facility, but are independent contractors who are neither employees nor agents of Tenet Florida Coastal Division; and, as a result, Tenet Florida Coastal Division is not responsible for the actions of any of these physicians in their medical practices.