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.

High Performing Hospital | University Medical Center | US News & World Report 2024-2025 | Gynecological Cancer Surgery

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 difference

What 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

“ Those nurses were awesome. They were kind. They were patient. They never gave up. They always checked on me. They made sure I had everything. ”

Lakisha Mack, uterine cancer survivor
Lakisha's story

“ I encourage other cancer patients and survivors to get outside and move around for at least 30 minutes a day. You’ll feel much better and more hopeful for life after cancer. ”

Lana Kammer, endometrial and breast cancer survivor
Lana'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, Lorri Bennett, RN, MSN, CCRC, 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.

Uterine Cancer Research

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:

Identifying a possible genetic culprit for uterine corpus endometrial cancer.

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.

Uterine Cancer Clinical Trials

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.

Our experienced uterine cancer care team will complete a thorough review of your cancer and create a personalized treatment plan.

Meet the team

Dr. Katie Schmitt guides a patient doing a physical therapy exercise with a metal bar

Support from start to finish

Suite: 306

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Directions

Scheduling: 843-792-9300

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Hollings Cancer Center Orangeburg

1161 Cook Road

Orangeburg, SC 29118

Directions

Main: 803-395-4600

Fax: 803-395-4399

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Other Gynecologic Cancers

Cervical Cancer

Ovarian Cancer

purple colored ribbon representing vaginal and vulvar cancer

Vulvar & Vaginal Cancer

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.

How common is uterine cancer?

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.

What are the types of uterine cancer?

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.

Is uterine cancer curable?

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%.

Who is diagnosed with uterine cancer?

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.

Can a Pap test diagnose uterine cancer?

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.

Why participate in a clinical trial about uterine cancer?

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.

Latest uterine cancer news

a family wedding photo featuring the father of the groom, the groom in a cream suit with brown tie, the mother of the groom in taupe holding flowers and the sister of the groom in bronze holding flowers

Hollings Cancer Network

Facing a challenging journey with uterine cancer, Debra Morin made a list of five things to remember each day.

Uterine cancer patient Lakisha Pack smiles at the camera in a garden setting

Uterine Cancer Survivor

Diagnosed with a rare uterine cancer at only 46, Lakisha Mack turned to faith, her family and her doctors.

three women pose in front of head-height letters DDW

Uterine Cancer

Using the power of bioinformatics, GI scientists turned cancer researchers find that elevated levels of molecular motor Myo5b are implicated in uterine cancer.