Womb cancer

The most common symptom is abnormal vaginal bleeding. This may be:

• heavier periods than normal
• bleeding between your periods
• bleeding even though you’ve been through the menopause
• unusual vaginal discharge

You may also experience abdominal pain or discomfort during sex.

• Less common symptoms include:
• pain or discomfort in your back, legs or pelvis
• blood in your urine
• loss of appetite
• unexplained tiredness
• nausea

If you have abnormal bleeding, or any other symptoms, then it’s important to see your GP or consultant.

Tests to help diagnosis include:

• Pelvic examination. Internal examination to check your womb.
• Blood tests. To check your general health and organ function.
• CT scan, MRI scan, or chest X-ray to give detailed imaging of your body.
• Transvaginal ultrasound. A scan through your vagina to show check your womb and lining, and pelvic area.
• Hysteroscopy and biopsy. A thin telescope is inserted into your womb through your vagina to look at the lining and take a biopsy.
• Aspiration biopsy. A long, thin tube is inserted into your womb through your vagina and gentle suction draws cells for testing.

The main treatments for womb cancer are:

• surgery
• radiotherapy
• chemotherapy
• hormone therapy

Most women have surgery for womb cancer. A hysterectomy is undertaken to remove the womb, ovaries and fallopian tubes. Depending on your stage and grade of cancer, you may then have radiotherapy or chemotherapy drug treatment to destroy cancer cells.

For women who are of child bearing age, some circumstances may allow the use of hormone therapy to treat the cancer instead of surgery.

For women with advanced womb cancer, who cannot have surgery, a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy are used to help control the cancer.