Overview

What is cancer?

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in an organ, such as the cervix, breast, ovary or lung. Cancer cells grow together to form a mass called a tumor. Benign (non-cancer) cells can also grow and spread, but are not invasive. Cancer can be life threatening because malignant cells can invade surrounding tissue and spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body. Early detection, before the cancer spreads, provides the best chance of cure.

What is uterine cancer?

The inner lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. Normally, the endometrial glands and connective tissue grow in response to ovarian hormones during the menstrual cycle. Uterine cancer - also called endometrial cancer - usually originates from endometrial cells.

In the United States, cancer of the endometrium is the most common cancer of the female reproductive organs. The American Cancer Society estimates that 41,200 new cases of endometrial cancer will be diagnosed in 2006. About 7,350 women in the United States will die from endometrial cancer in 2006.

Prognosis

Endometrial cancer survival rates are excellent when the disease is discovered and treated in its earliest stage.

More on Uterine Cancer

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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.