Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer is cancer of the womb (uterus) lining.� It is
the fourth most common cancer in women in the UK (not including
non-melanoma skin cancer). About 6,500 women are diagnosed with
endometrial cancer in the UK each year Symptoms are usually
noticeable so it is likely to be picked up at an early stage and
treatment is often very successful.
There are two main types of endometrial cancer:
- Type 1 endometrial cancer isa slow-growing cancer, thought to
be linked to the female hormone oestrogen.
- Type 2 endometrial cancer is a more aggressive, faster-growing
form of cancer that does not appear to have any connection with
oestrogen.
Type 1 endometrial cancer is more common, accounting for around
80% of cases. Type 2 accounts for around 10% of cases. A number of
rarer types of womb cancers account for a further 10% or
thereabouts.
The prognosis for type 1 endometrial cancer is usually very
good. This is because this type of cancer is usually detected in
its earliest stages, when a complete cure is possible.
Due to its more aggressive nature, the prognosis for type 2
endometrial cancer is less favourable as it's usually at an
advanced stage by the time it's detected.