What is endometrial cancer?

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Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer, also known as uterine cancer, most commonly occurs in older women. Fortunately, it is usually caught in its early stages when it is highly curable. Endometrial cancer involves abnormal cellular growth of the endometrium, the tissue that lines a woman's uterus and is normally shed each month during menstruation. Although accounting for only 6% of all cancers among women, it is the fourth most common cancer after breast, colorectal, and lung cancers.

Endometrial Cancer

The endometrium is the tissue lining the uterus (or womb). The uterus, a hollow organ about the size and shape of a pear, is found in a woman's pelvic region. The upper part of the uterus is called the corpus, the lower, narrower part of the uterus is called the cervix. The cervix is the opening between the uterus and the vagina. The outer layer of the uterus is called the myometrium. The myometrium is thick and composed of strong muscles. These muscles contract during labor to push out the baby. The endometrium is soft and spongy. Each month, the endometrium changes as part of the menstrual cycle. Early in the cycle, the ovaries secrete a hormone called estrogen that causes the endometrium to thicken. In the middle of the cycle, the ovaries stop secreting estrogen and start secreting another hormone called progesterone. Progesterone prepares the innermost layer of the endometrium to support an embryo should conception (pregnancy) occur. If conception does not occur, the hormone levels decrease dramatically. The innermost layer of the endometrium is then shed as menstrual fluid.

Uterine cancer

The uterus, or womb, is an important female reproductive organ. It is the place where a baby grows when a women is pregnant. There are different types of uterine cancer. The most common type starts in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. This type of cancer is sometimes called endometrial cancer. The symptoms of uterine cancer include

Endometrial Cancer

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Uterine cancer

Cancers of the uterus (womb) usually begin in the cells that make up the lining of the uterus (endometrium).

Endometrial Cancer Home Page - National Cancer Institute

Information about endometrial cancer treatment, prevention, causes, screening, clinical trials, research, and statistics from the National Cancer Institute.

Endometrial cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Endometrial cancer refers to several types of malignancies that arise from the endometrium, or lining, of the uterus. Endometrial cancers are the most ...

What is endometrial cancer?

Aug 18, 2010 ... Endometrial cancer is a cancer that starts in the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus (womb).

Uterine Cancer (Endometrial Cancer) Symptoms, Signs, Stage ...

Mar 15, 2011 ... What about surgery for the treatment of endometrial cancer? ... Uterine Cancer (Cancer of the Uterus, Endometrial Cancer) At A Glance ...

Endometrial Cancer-Topic Overview

Nov 26, 2008 ... This topic provides information about the initial testing, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer of the lining of the uterus, endometrial ...