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The prognosis (predicted outlook or chance of survival) of endometrial cancer depends on the stage of the cancer. The stage indicates the extent of the cancer, or how widespread the disease is in the body. The staging system for endometrial cancer is called the FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) system. The FIGO system is a surgical system, which means that staging is based on the examination of surgically removed tissue. The FIGO system categorizes the cancer in stages I through IV, and divides some of the stages even further (e.g., stages IIA and IIB):

• Stage I: The cancer is restricted to the body (corpus) of the uterus but may have spread through the myometrium (the muscular wall of the uterus).
  
  
• Stage II: The cancer has spread to the cervix (the lower region of the uterus, located next to the vagina). It may be in the corpus, the endocervical glands (glands that form the inner lining of the cervix) or the cervical stroma (the connective tissue that supports the cervix).
  
  
• Stage III: The cancer has extended outside or beyond the uterus, but is restricted to the pelvic area. It may have spread to surface tissue of the uterus or the tissues on the right and left side (such as the ovaries). Cancer cells may also be present in fluid from the lining of the abdomen and pelvis.
  
  
  • Stage IIIB: The cancer has reached the vagina, but has not affected lymph nodes or distant sites. Tumors may be of any size and may have spread to pelvic and/or paraaortic lymph nodes (lymph nodes around the uterus).
    
    
• Stage IV: The cancer has reached the mucosa (inner surface) of the urinary bladder or the rectum (lower section of the large intestine), and/or has reached the lymph nodes in the groin, and/or has spread to distant organs, such as the lungs or bones.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the 5-year survival rate of endometrial cancer by stage is as follows: