Uterine cancer is a type of gynecological cancer specific to the uterus. Endometrial cancer is the most common, although there are other types of uterine cancers, such as uterine sarcoma. Although it occurs more commonly in women experiencing menopause, basically every woman is at risk for developing uterine cancer. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 35,000 women in the United States develop uterine cancer every year. Here is a look at the prognosis for uterine cancer.
Uterine Cancer Statistics
According to the National Cancer Institute, 81.7% of patients survived for five years or more following a diagnosis of endometrial cancer since 2005. Endometrial cancer is the most common type of uterine cancer, beginning in the tissue lining (endometrium) of the uterus. The NCI’s five year relative survival rate breaks down as follows:
- Localized endometrial cancer (cancer that has not spread) has a 95% survival rate.
- Regional endometrial cancer (cancer that spread to nearby lymph nodes) has a 68% survival rate.
- Distant cancer (cancer that spread to other areas of the body or “metastasized”) has a 17% survival rate.
- Unknown stages of endometrial cancer have a 48% survival rate.
The American Cancer Society reports that survival rates have increased massively over the last 80 years—in 1930, about 36 in 100,000 women died of uterine cancers (although this includes cervical cancers as well). In 2012, that number dropped to less than 7 women out of 100,000. Between 2008 and 2012, 25 women in 100,000 were diagnosed with uterine cancer; of those, less than 5 per 100,000 women faced mortality.
Of the 60,000 women expected to be diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2016, about 16% of those case are anticipated to be fatal. Although these numbers may be frightening, they also offer hope. If you or a loved one are facing uterine cancer, seek medical help immediately to stay on the winning side of these statistics.
