Uterine Cancer FAQs

Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause a few types of cancer including cervical cancer and oropharyngeal cancer but HPV doesn’t cause uterine cancer.

Uterine cancer may metastasize (spread) to other parts of the reproductive system, including the cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries. In further advanced stages of uterine cancer, it may spread to the bladder, rectum, or other more distant organs.

Having a family history of cancer increases your risk of developing cancer. This is especially true if your family has a pattern of uterine cancer or a specific type of colorectal cancer known as Lynch syndrome. Lynch syndrome is a hereditary type of cancer that can also increase the risk of endometrial cancer.

Yes, in rare cases a woman with endometriosis might develop endometrial cancer after a hysterectomy. With endometriosis, the lining that usually grows inside the uterus also grows outside the uterus – and this is where endometrial cancer forms.

Because Pap smears collect a sample from your cervix, they can only detect cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that directly affects the cervix.

Endometriosis may slightly increase the risk of uterine cancer or ovarian cancers, but it’s not a direct cause.

Endometrial cancer can spread in weeks or months, but the speed varies widely. A person with a weaker immune system may find that endometrial cancer spreads more quickly because their body is less capable of fighting the illness. 

It is possible to get pregnant with uterine cancer. It. is also possible to be diagnosed with uterine cancer during or after pregnancy. You can discuss options with your doctor to help you deliver a healthy child while still treating uterine cancer.

Not necessarily. Excess layers of the uterine lining can become cancerous, but not always. If you have a concern about your uterine lining, your gynecologist can offer advice.