Endometrial Cancer

The Uterus
Understanding Cancer
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Staging & Treatment
Getting a Second Opinion
Preparing for Treatment

Methods of Treatment
Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
Surgery
Radiation Therapy
Nutrition
Support for Women with Uterine Cancer

The Uterus

The uterus is part of a woman's reproductive system. It is the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a baby grows. The uterus is in the pelvis between the bladder and the rectum.

The narrow, lower portion of the uterus is the cervix. The broad, middle part of the uterus is the body, or corpus. The dome-shaped top of the uterus is the fundus. The fallopian tubes extend from either side of the top of the uterus to the ovaries.

The wall of the uterus has two layers of tissue. The inner layer, or lining, is the endometrium. The outer layer is muscle tissue called the myometrium.

In women of childbearing age, the lining of the uterus grows and thickens each month to prepare for pregnancy. If a woman does not become pregnant, the thick, bloody lining flows out of the body through the vagina. This flow is called menstruation.

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