Uterine Cancer Awareness Month: what you need to know

Cancer of the womb or uterus is when the cells in the womb grow in an abnormal way. A group of these cancer cells can form a tumour.

Most women with womb cancer will have a type called endometrial cancer. This is cancer that starts in the lining of the womb

The lining of your womb is called the endometrium. Every month this lining thickens, grows and then falls away from the womb as a monthly period. During pregnancy, your womb protects the growing baby.

Symptoms and diagnosis of uterine cancer

Symptoms of uterine cancer can include:

Bleeding after the menopause
Bleeding between periods
Heavier periods than normal
Abnormal vaginal discharge that may have an odour and be dark pink or blood stained
Pain in your lower abdomen or back of legs
Discomfort or pain during sex.

These symptoms can also be caused by conditions other than cancer, but it’s important to go to your doctor and get any unusual changes checked out.

Diagnosing uterine cancer

You may have an increased risk of womb cancer if your family have a genetic history of Lynch Syndrome.

In this case, your doctor may advise you to have screening tests from your mid-30s. For example, vaginal ultrasound scans, hysteroscopies and physical examinations.

Tests at the hospital

Transvaginal ultrasound: A small metal device called a probe is gently put into your vagina. It uses sound waves to build up a picture of the tissues in your womb. This test is not painful but may be a little uncomfortable.

Hysteroscopy: A thin, flexible tube with a light at the end is passed through your vagina and into your womb. This allows your doctor to look inside your womb and take tissue samples or a biopsy. You may be given a local anaesthetic for this test.

Biopsy: Your doctor can take small amounts of tissue samples from your womb during the hysteroscopy. These are called biopsies. Biopsies are sent to a laboratory and looked at under a microscope to find out if cancer cells are present.

Dilatation and curettage (D&C): Here the doctor gently opens your cervix and entrance to the womb and takes samples of tissue from the inner lining of your womb. This is done with an instrument shaped like a spoon called a curette. The samples are then sent to the laboratory to be examined. This test is done under general anaesthetic.

Symptoms and diagnosis of uterine cancer

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