Conditions and symptoms
What Is Endometrial Cancer? Why Hormone Labels Warn
Endometrial cancer · say it: en-doh-MEE-tree-ul KAN-serAlso written: uterine cancer, cancer of the womb, cancer of the uterus, endometrial carcinoma
Short answer
Endometrial cancer is cancer that starts in the endometrium, the inner lining of the womb (uterus).
What it means
Endometrial cancer begins in the cells of the endometrium, the lining of the womb that thickens and sheds during the menstrual cycle. It is one of the most common cancers of the female reproductive system and is most often found after menopause. The most common early sign is abnormal vaginal bleeding, especially any bleeding after menopause, which should always be checked by a doctor.
Labels for estrogen-only hormone therapy carry a boxed warning about endometrial cancer. Estrogen makes the womb lining grow; without a progestin to balance it, the lining can overgrow and cancer risk rises. That is why people who still have a womb are usually prescribed a progestin with estrogen. Some other medicines, such as tamoxifen, also list it in their warnings.
Endometrial hyperplasia, a thickening of the womb lining, is related but is not cancer, although some types can lead to it. Cervical cancer and ovarian cancer start in different organs.
Where you may see it
- Boxed warnings on estrogen hormone therapy labels
- Warnings on some breast cancer medicine labels
- Endometrial biopsy and pelvic ultrasound reports
📄 How it looks on a report
Adding a progestin to estrogen therapy has been shown to reduce the risk of endometrial hyperplasia, which may be a precursor to endometrial cancer.
🙅 What it does not mean
- The warning does not mean hormone therapy will cause cancer. It describes a higher risk that is reduced with the right combination.
- Bleeding after menopause is not normal, but it is most often due to causes other than cancer. It still needs checking.
- Endometrial hyperplasia on a report is not the same as cancer.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Endometrial cancer”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Estradiol
An estrogen hormone medicine
- Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
A progestin hormone. The label describes it as a derivative of progesterone. The FDA pharmacologic class is not listed.
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Endometrial cancer” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “endometrial cancer”
Seeing this word on your own report? Get every line of it explained, free.
Explain my report🧩 Related words
🔎 Look up another word
More words: conditions and symptoms
General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.