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Hollings Cancer Network
Facing a challenging journey with uterine cancer, Debra Morin made a list of five things to remember each day.
Uterine Cancer
Uterine cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S. The National Cancer Institute estimates that about 66,000 women will be diagnosed with uterine cancer annually. At MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, the only NCI-designated cancer center in South Carolina, your uterine cancer care will be overseen by a team of gynecologic oncologists who can provide a range of options that include surgery, chemotherapy and targeted therapies, and you can rest easy knowing that University Medical Center, the hospital where our gynecologic oncologists operate, has been rated as high-performing for uterine cancer surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
Our experts will consider the best course of treatment for you and might suggest you are a good match for a uterine cancer clinical trial. Clinical trials provide the opportunity to have access to the newest therapies that could become the standard of care in the future.
What is uterine cancer? | Symptoms | Treatment | Care Locations | Risk Factors | Common Questions | Latest News
In good hands
You know you're in good hands at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. Here, you have access to the latest innovations in cancer treatment, including clinical trials, advanced surgical techniques, support services and survivorship planning. You can rest easy knowing we hold national rankings for cancer care and take a leadership role in cancer research and prevention.
The Hollings differenceWhat is uterine cancer?
Uterine cancer begins in the uterus — sometimes called the womb. There are different types of uterine cancer. Most cases are endometrial cancer, which is cancer that begins in the lining of the uterus, and you will often see uterine cancer and endometrial cancer referred to interchangeably.
Endometrial cancer is usually caught early, and the overall five-year survival rate is 84%. Much more rare is uterine sarcoma, which is cancer that begins in the muscle or other tissue of the uterus. Survival rates for uterine sarcoma depend on the subtype of sarcoma and on how early it is diagnosed.
Have more questions about uterine cancer? Check out our answers to common questions.
Uterine cancer symptoms
Symptoms of endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma are similar. The average age of diagnosis for each of these cancers is 60. Consult your doctor if you have any of the following:
- Unusual vaginal discharge or bleeding
- Bleeding after menopause
- Pain, pressure or cramping in your pelvis
“ Dr. Harold was absolutely amazing. My husband and I cannot say enough about him. Just from the first time that I met with him, he calmed my nerves, and he explained everything, all the possible scenarios. And he gave me hope. ”
Debra Morin, uterine cancer survivor
Debra's story
Uterine cancer treatment
Treatment for uterine cancer depends upon whether the cancer has spread outside the uterus, your health and your age. You and your doctor will discuss which option is best for you.
Our treatment options include:
Surgery
Our team is trained in the use of laparoscopic surgery and the da Vinci Surgical System, a robot that helps to increase surgical precision. These techniques are used for:
- Early pelvic mass evaluations
- Staging and treatment for early endometrial, ovarian and cervical cancer
- Robotic-assisted laparoscopic lymph node assessment
Radiation therapy
- Specialized radiation oncology services to target therapy and decrease side effects
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in addition to traditional external beam radiation
- Vaginal brachytherapy for treatment of endometrial cancers
Refer a uterine cancer patient
To refer a uterine cancer patient to Hollings, please call patient referral coordinators Ulani DeCillis (843-985-0579) or Morgan Krohn (843-985-0580). If you are a referring provider, please submit our GYN Oncology Referral Form.
Nurse navigator support
You and your doctor will discuss the pros and cons of each option and decide on the best course of treatment for you. Our gynecologic cancer nurse navigators, Melinda Walto, BSN, RN, at our Charleston area locations and Antonio Rivera, BSN, RN, OCN, at Tidelands, will help you understand what to expect during treatment and answer questions you may have.
Research powers everything we do as we continually search for more effective ways to diagnose and treat uterine cancer. Areas our researchers are focusing on include:
In addition, Hollings’ Gynecologic Oncology Transdisciplinary Cancer Team brings together expertise from different disciplines in basic and clinical research to collaborate on ongoing gynecologic cancer research.
As South Carolina’s only NCI-designated cancer center, Hollings offers you clinical trials and treatments that aren’t available anywhere else in the state. Learn more about clinical trials at Hollings and see our current uterine cancer and gynecologic cancer clinical trials. By participating in a clinical trial, you may benefit from therapies that will one day be considered standard treatment.
Through our partnership with the Gynecologic Oncology Group and NRG Oncology, Hollings is also able to offer you additional opportunities to participate in national Phase III clinical trials specific to gynecologic cancers, providing access to cancer-fighting agents not yet available in regular practice.
Support from start to finish
We pride ourselves on our holistic approach to cancer care. We offer you many resources to help you throughout your cancer journey, including financial counseling, physical therapy, nutrition services, and support groups.
Patient ResourcesGynecologic Cancer Care Locations
MUSC Hollings Cancer Center Downtown
86 Jonathan Lucas Street
Charleston, SC 29425
Scheduling: 843-792-9300
Gynecology Oncology Beaufort
122 Okatie Center Boulevard North
Okatie, SC 29909
Gynecology Oncology East Cooper
East Cooper Medical Pavilion
1280 Hospital Drive
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Gynecology Oncology Florence
805 Pamplico Highway
Suite: 320
Florence, SC 29505
Scheduling: 843-792-9300
Gynecology Oncology Murrells Inlet
Waccamaw Medical Park West
4040 Hwy 17 Bypass
Suite: 306
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
Scheduling: 843-792-9300
Hollings Cancer Center Orangeburg
1161 Cook Road
Orangeburg, SC 29118
Main: 803-395-4600
Fax: 803-395-4399
Uterine cancer risk factors
Some risk factors for cancer are things that you can control, but other risk factors are out of your control. The greatest overall risk for cancer is age. Over time, mutations or damage to DNA accumulate and can eventually become cancer. You can’t control aging, but you can do things, like exercising, that can provide some protection from cancer. Risk factors for uterine cancer include:
- Age
- Estrogen for hormone replacement therapy, without the use of progesterone
- Obesity
- Diabetes or metabolic syndrome
- Family history of uterine, colon or ovarian cancer or having Lynch syndrome. The Hollings Hereditary Cancer Clinic offers genetic testing to find gene mutations that are known to be associated with cancer and provides specialized follow-up care based on personal health history and the genetic results.
- Beginning menstruation before age 12 and menopause after age 50
- Taking tamoxifen
- Endometrial hyperplasia, or a thickening of the lining of the uterus
- Endometrial polyps
Uterine cancer statistics
According to the National Cancer Institute, here are some of the most notable statistics regarding uterine cancer:
- About 3.1% of women will be diagnosed with uterine cancer during their lifetimes.
- Uterine cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system.
- Non-Hispanic Black women have the highest rates of uterine cancer, at 29.3 cases per 100,000 women.
- The median age at diagnosis is 63 years old.
Common questions about uterine cancer
After you receive a uterine cancer diagnosis, you likely will have lots of questions. Your doctor can answer questions specific to your care, but we have compiled a list of some of the most common questions for your reference below.
Uterine cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer and the fourth most common cancer overall in women. The American Cancer Society estimated 65,950 uterine cancer diagnoses in 2022.
There are two primary types of uterine cancer. Ninety percent of cases begin in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. You might hear or see that this type of uterine cancer is also called endometrial cancer. Most endometrial cancers are adenocarcinomas, and endometrioid cancer is the most common type of adenocarcinoma, by far. Only 10% of uterine cancers are uterine sarcomas, or cancers that begin in the muscle or other tissue of the uterus.
The American Cancer Society estimates that there are more than 600,000 endometrial cancer survivors alive today. Uterine cancer can be treated when it is found at an early stage. When endometrial cancer, the most common type of uterine cancer, is diagnosed while still localized — meaning it hasn’t spread outside of the uterus — the five-year survival rate is almost 95%.
Most people diagnosed with uterine cancer are between 55 and 64 years old. White women are more likely to be diagnosed with uterine cancer than Black women. However, Black women are more likely to die from uterine cancer than White women.
The Pap test is designed to screen for cervical cancer, not uterine cancer. Sometimes it does pick up early uterine cancer, but you shouldn't rely on this test for uterine cancer screening. Right now, there is no screening test for uterine cancer. Researchers are looking for reliable screening tests, but in the meantime you should take note of unusual signs, like pain or bleeding, and speak to your doctor about your symptoms.
Everything that we know about how to treat cancer comes from clinical trials. By participating in a clinical trial, you could potentially receive more effective treatments that will become standard in the future. You will also be contributing to science that could help thousands of other patients like you.
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