The 7 Most Common Uterine Cancer Symptoms, According to Doctors
An estimated 66,570 new cases of uterine cancer will be diagnosed in 2021 alone, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI)—they’ll make up 3.5% of all new cancer diagnoses for that entire year. These statistics make uterine cancer the fourth most common cancer for women in 2021, behind breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Uterine cancer—technically cancer that originates in the uterus—can be separated out into two distinct types: the more common endometrial cancer, and the less common uterine sarcoma, per the NCI. Endometrial cancer, specifically, forms in the endometrium, or uterine lining (that’s the stuff that sheds each month during menstruation); uterine sarcoma primarily affects the muscles or supporting tissues of the uterus.
Both types of uterine cancer can display similar symptoms, but before we dive in, there’s something important to remember: These symptoms, though they can be a sign of endometrial cancer or uterine sarcoma, may also be a sign of a number of other far less dangerous conditions, Ursula Matulonis, MD, chief of the division of gynecologic oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, tells Health. Basically: Having any of these symptoms doesn’t automatically mean you have uterine cancer, though they do suggest it’s time to make an appointment with your ob-gyn.
Here, gynecologic oncologists explain seven of the most common symptoms associated with uterine cancer, and why it’s essential to get them checked out by a doctor, ASAP.
Irregular vaginal bleeding or discharge
Irregular vaginal bleeding is the most common symptom of early stage uterine cancer, or uterine cancer that hasn’t yet spread to other areas of the body, Pamela Soliman, MD, professor and center medical director in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, tells Health. This bleeding occurs when the cancer grows on the uterine lining, causing it to thicken. That thickening triggers the cells at the top of the uterine lining to slough off irregularly, Dr. Soliman explains.
In those who are premenopausal, this irregular bleeding can look like spotting in between periods, says Dr. Matulonis. Or it can be changes in the frequency or duration of your period, Alison Schram, MD, attending physician in the early drug development and gynecologic medical oncology services at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, tells Health. Post-menopause, it can be any type of vaginal bleeding or spotting. This bleeding is not always bright red; sometimes, it looks more like a brownish discharge, says Dr. Matulonis. The American Cancer Society adds that in a small number of endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma diagnoses, there may be no visible blood in the discharge.
Irregular vaginal bleeding is much more likely to be a sign of cancer after menopause than before it, according to Dr. Soliman. (Uterine cancer most often occurs in women over 50, and the average age of diagnosis is 60, per to the American Society of Clinical Oncology.) “In a postmenopausal woman, that’s definitely a red flag,” she says. Still, anyone with irregular bleeding or discharge should raise the issue with their doctor.
