Question 1

What is the most common early symptom of uterine cancer?

Accepted Answer

Abnormal vaginal bleeding is the most common and important early symptom of uterine cancer, particularly bleeding after menopause or unusual bleeding between periods before menopause. Because this symptom tends to appear early, most uterine cancers are caught at a localised, more treatable stage compared to other gynaecological cancers. Other possible symptoms include pelvic pain, unusual vaginal discharge, and pain during intercourse. Any postmenopausal bleeding, however light, should be evaluated promptly by a gynaecologist, since it is the single biggest red flag for this cancer.

Question 2

What are the stages of uterine cancer and how do they affect treatment?

Accepted Answer

Uterine cancer is staged from I to IV based on how far it has spread. Stage I is confined to the uterus, stage II involves spread to the cervix, stage III means spread to nearby structures or lymph nodes, and stage IV indicates spread to distant organs like the lungs or liver. Earlier stages are usually treated effectively with surgery alone, while later stages typically require a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or hormone therapy. Staging, confirmed during surgery, is central to deciding your specific treatment plan and expected outcome.

Question 3

What increases a woman's risk of uterine cancer?

Accepted Answer

Uterine cancer risk rises with factors that increase lifetime exposure to oestrogen without enough progesterone to balance it. These include obesity, since fat tissue produces extra oestrogen, never having been pregnant, early onset of periods or late menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and use of oestrogen therapy without progesterone. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and tamoxifen use for breast cancer treatment are also linked to higher risk. Most cases occur in women aged 55 and older, though rates in younger women are gradually rising.

Question 4

What are the treatment options for uterine cancer?

Accepted Answer

The standard treatment for uterine cancer is a total hysterectomy, removing the uterus, cervix and often the ovaries and fallopian tubes, which is curative for many early-stage cases. Depending on the stage and grade of cancer, additional treatment with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy may be recommended to reduce the chance of recurrence. In select early-stage cases in younger women wanting to preserve fertility, hormone-based treatment may be considered instead of immediate surgery. Your gynaecologic oncologist will tailor the treatment plan to your specific cancer type and goals.

Question 5

Does uterine cancer treatment always require hysterectomy?

Accepted Answer

For most women, yes, hysterectomy is the standard and most effective treatment for uterine cancer, since it removes the organ where the cancer originates along with any local spread. However, for younger women with very early-stage, low-grade cancer who wish to preserve fertility, hormone therapy may be tried under close monitoring as an alternative, with hysterectomy considered afterward if fertility is no longer a priority or if the cancer doesn't respond. This is a specialised decision that should only be made with a gynaecologic oncologist after careful evaluation.

Question 6

What is the survival rate for uterine cancer detected early?

Accepted Answer

Uterine cancer has one of the better prognoses among gynaecological cancers when caught early, largely because abnormal bleeding prompts many women to seek care sooner. The overall five-year survival rate is around 81%, but this rises to roughly 95% when the cancer is confined to the uterus at diagnosis. Survival decreases as the cancer spreads further at diagnosis. These are population-based statistics, and your individual outlook depends on the specific cancer subtype, grade and your overall health, which your oncologist can explain in more detail.

Uterine Cancer