Symptoms of uterine cancer may include unusual vaginal bleeding, pain in the pelvic region, or unexplained weight loss. A person should contact a doctor if they experience these symptoms.
Uterine cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the uterus. There are two types of uterine cancer: endometrial cancer and the less common uterine sarcoma.
This article discusses some possible symptoms a person with uterine cancer may display, frequently asked questions, and more.
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Unusual vaginal bleeding may refer to bleeding between periods. It can also
- irregular periods
- heavy menstrual bleeding
- spotting
- a change in periods
- bleeding after menopause
Although these symptoms can be due to other causes, they can signify uterine cancer. Around 90% of people with endometrial cancer have unusual vaginal bleeding.
Postmenopausal bleeding, or bleeding after menopause, is the most common sign of uterine cancer.
A person should contact a doctor if they experience any of these symptoms, particularly if they notice bleeding, spotting, or discharge after menopause.
Another
Although this is a
Discharge may be bloody, which may turn it a red, rusty, or brown color. However, nonbloody discharge
Pelvic pain or pressure in the pelvic region
The pain can be due to other conditions. For example, chronic pelvic pain is a symptom of endometriosis. However, people should still contact a doctor if they notice this symptom.
Feeling a lump or mass in the abdomen may be an indication of uterine cancer. This symptom
A person or medical examiner may be able to feel the mass in the uterus with their fingers. A person
The mass may press onto nearby organs — this can cause bowel or bladder issues such as frequent urination or constipation.
Losing weight without trying to is another possible sign of uterine cancer.
Unexplained weight loss may not be serious but it can also signify other types of cancer, so a person should always contact a doctor if they lose weight without trying.
As with an abdominal mass, unexplained weight loss
This section answers some common questions about uterine cancer symptoms.
What is the first stage of uterus cancer?
Uterine cancer refers to two types of cancer: endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma.
The first stage of endometrial cancer is stage 1, which has two sub-stages, 1A and 1B.
The table below describes the first stage of endometrial cancer.
| Stage | Stage description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cancer is present inside the uterus. It might also have grown into the cervix glands but not the cervix connective tissue. It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs. |
| 1A | Cancer is growing in the endometrium, which is the inner lining of the uterus. It may have grown into It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs. |
| 1B | Cancer has spread from the endometrium more than halfway through the myometrium. It has not spread beyond the uterus or to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs. |
The staging for uterine sarcoma is very similar. Doctors may determine uterine sarcoma by assessing the tumor size.
Stage 1 uterine sarcoma is as
| Stage | Stage description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cancer is present in the uterus but not outside it. It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs. |
| 1A | Cancer is growing in the uterus, but the tumor is not larger than 5 cm. It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs. |
| 1B | Cancer is only present in the uterus and is larger than 5 cm. It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs. |
What are the late signs of uterine cancer?
The late symptoms of endometrial cancer
- pelvic pain
- feeling a mass in the abdomen
- unexplained weight loss
Later symptoms also depend on which other organs the cancer has spread to. For example, cancer that has spread to the bones may cause bone pain.
Symptoms of uterine sarcoma are very similar to those of endometrial cancer.
In the later stages of uterine sarcoma, a person
The symptoms of the two uterine cancers — endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma — include unusual vaginal bleeding, discharge, pelvic pain, a lump or mass, and weight loss.
The most common symptom of endometrial cancer is unusual vaginal bleeding, including postmenopausal bleeding.
This may also include heavy or irregular periods or bleeding in between periods.
Although many of these symptoms have benign causes, such as infection, anyone who experiences them should contact a medical professional for an assessment.