Source: Cancer Resource Room

What is Sarcoma of the Uterus?
Sarcoma of the uterus, a very rare kind of cancer in women, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells start growing in the muscles or other supporting tissues of the uterus. View - Female Pelvis - Front The uterus is the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a baby grows. Sarcoma of the uterus is different from cancer of the endometrium, a disease in which cancer cells start growing in the lining of the uterus (refer to the PDQ summary on Endometrial Cancer Treatment for information).

Women who have received therapy with high-dose x-rays (external-beam radiation therapy) to their pelvis are at a higher risk to develop sarcoma of the uterus. These x-rays are sometimes given to women to stop bleeding from the uterus.

A doctor should be seen if there is bleeding after menopause (the time when a woman no longer has menstrual periods) or bleeding that is not part of menstrual periods.

Sarcoma of the uterus usually begins after menopause.

What are the symptoms of sarcoma of the uterus?
If there are signs of cancer, a doctor will do certain tests to check for cancer, usually beginning with an internal (pelvic) examination. During the examination, the doctor will feel for any lumps or changes in the shapes of the pelvic organs. The doctor may then do a Pap test, using a piece of cotton, a small wooden stick, or brush to gently scrape the outside of the cervix (the opening of the uterus) and the vagina to pick up cells. Because sarcoma of the uterus begins inside, this cancer will not usually show up on the Pap test. The doctor may also do a dilation and curettage (D & C) by stretching the cervix and inserting a small, spoon-shaped instrument into the uterus to remove pieces of the lining of the uterus. This tissue is then checked under a microscope for cancer cells.

How is sarcoma of the uterus diagnosed?
The prognosis (chance of recovery) and choice of treatment depend on the stage of the sarcoma (whether it is just in the uterus or has spread to other places), how fast the tumor cells are growing, and the patient’s general state of health.

Stages of sarcoma of the uterus
Once sarcoma of the uterus has been found, more tests will be done to find out if the cancer has spread from the uterus to other parts of the body (staging). A doctor needs to know the stage of the disease to plan treatment. The following stages are used for sarcoma of the uterus:

• Stage I
  Cancer is found only in the main part of the uterus (it is not found in the cervix).
• Stage II
  Cancer cells have spread to the cervix.
• Stage III
  Cancer cells have spread outside the uterus but have not spread outside the pelvis.
• Stage IV
  Cancer cells have spread beyond the pelvis, to other body parts, or into the lining of the bladder (the sac that holds urine) or rectum.
• Recurrent
  Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has been treated.

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