Endometrial cancer is a type of cancer that is characterized by of the growth of abnormal, malignant cells in the inner lining of the uterus, which is called the endometrium. The most common symptom of endometrial cancer is abnormal uterine spotting or bleeding from the vagina.

Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in American women, according to the American Cancer Society. Although the exact cause of the disease is unknown, many experts believe that estrogen levels play a large role in the development of endometrial cancer. Risk factors for the condition may include:

• Length of menstrual span (number of years a woman menstruates)
• Infertility
• Obesity
• Age
• History of breast cancer or ovarian cancer
• Use of estrogen medications or certain hormone blocking agents (e.g., tamoxifen)

The diagnosis of endometrial cancer typically begins with a complete medical history, physical examination and pelvic examination. If cancer is suspected, other tests, such as an endometrial biopsy (a procedure to obtain a tissue sample from the endometrium) will usually follow. Methods for treating endometrial cancer are often successful. Treatment methods may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. In many patients, a combination of these therapies may be used as treatment. Research continues to discover more about the nature of this cancer, methods of prevention and treatment and ways to reduce the risk of recurrence.