Méhtestrák

What is it?

The womb (uterus) is where a baby grows during pregnancy.¹ Endometrial cancer starts in the womb's lining, the endometrium.^1,3 It is the most common kind of womb cancer.³ The cause is not known, but too much of the hormone oestrogen raises the risk.^3,5

It is most common in people who have been through the menopause, but anyone with a womb can get it.¹ Being overweight, some kinds of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), diabetes, never having given birth, a late menopause and the breast cancer medicine tamoxifen raise the risk.⁵ It is more likely if close family have had womb, bowel or ovarian cancer, or with an inherited condition called Lynch syndrome.^5,3 A healthy weight, regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your chances.⁵

The first signs

The most common sign is bleeding from the vagina that is not normal for you.^3,4

• bleeding or spotting after the menopause;²
• heavy periods that are unusual for you, or bleeding between periods;²
• a change in the discharge from your vagina;²
• pain in the lower back or between the hips (pelvis), or pain during sex;²
• a lump or swelling in your tummy, or peeing or pooing more or less often than usual.²

How doctors find out

Your GP asks about your symptoms and may examine your tummy and vagina; you can ask for a female doctor or nurse.² If cancer is possible, they send you to a specialist.^2,6 You may have a scan with a small device placed in the vagina, blood tests, a look inside the womb with a thin camera (hysteroscopy), and a biopsy, where cells are taken from the womb lining.⁶ The tests can feel uncomfortable but should not hurt.⁶

Results usually take a few weeks.⁶ If it is cancer, more scans (CT, MRI or PET) and genetic tests show how far it has spread.⁶ A specialist nurse is your main contact during and after treatment.⁶

Jelenlegi kezelés

Hysterectomy, then radiotherapy or chemo if neededForrás: MedlinePlus

Will it get worse?

How serious it is depends on how big the cancer is, whether it has spread, and your general health.¹ Irregular bleeding usually makes people see a doctor early, so most cases are found before the cancer has spread; about two in three are still only in the womb when found.^4,7 Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body is rarely cured.⁴

Medicines: what helps, and what to watch for

Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill cancer cells.⁸ It can be given after surgery to lower the chance of the cancer coming back, together with radiotherapy, or to slow the cancer and ease symptoms if it has spread.⁸ Hormone therapy blocks the hormones some of these cancers need to grow; it can help when the cancer has spread or you are not well enough for surgery or radiotherapy.^9,8 Immunotherapy, which helps your immune system find and kill cancer cells, and targeted medicines may be options for advanced cancer or cancer that comes back.^8,9

Good to know:

• Common side effects of chemotherapy are tiredness, feeling sick, a sore mouth, hair loss for a while, and numbness or tingling in the hands or feet;¹⁰
• Radiotherapy can cause tiredness, diarrhoea (which should go within a few weeks of treatment ending), vaginal dryness or narrowing, and the menopause;¹¹
• You do not need to wait for your next check-up to raise a side effect that worries you.⁸

Radiotherapy, for some people

Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.⁸ It can come from a machine outside the body or from a source placed inside, near the cancer.⁹ It may be given after surgery to lower the chance of the cancer coming back, and it can be the main treatment if you cannot have surgery.⁸ It can also ease symptoms.⁹

Surgery, for some people

Surgery is the most common treatment, especially for early cancer.^9,8 The surgeon removes the womb and the neck of the womb (cervix) in an operation called a hysterectomy. Sometimes the ovaries and fallopian tubes, nearby lymph nodes or the upper part of the vagina are removed too.^8,3 If the cancer has spread or come back, surgery may also remove nearby parts, such as the ovaries and tubes, the bladder or the rectum.⁸ Recovery can take a long time.⁸ Your team will talk with you about what treatment means for having children.⁸

Work, driving and family

You will have regular check-ups during and after treatment.⁸ Your specialist nurse can tell you about support services near you.¹²

Is there a cure?

Yes, often.⁴ When the cancer is found early and is only in the womb, treatment usually cures it.^4,7 When it has spread far, it is rarely cured, and treatment aims to control it.^4,8 Clinical trials are testing new treatments, and joining one may be an option for some people.⁹

Medián túlélés

About 3 years with chemotherapy for stage III or IVForrás: NCI PDQ, 2025

Kiknél mérték: Stage III or IV, with chemotherapy: the GOG-0209 trial (1,381 women)

A medián egy csoport középső értéke: a csoportban az emberek fele tovább élt, a fele rövidebb ideig. Csoportokból számolják, ezért nem mondja meg, hogy egy adott ember meddig fog élni.

Források

1. NHS: Womb (uterus) cancer – Overview
2. NHS: Womb (uterus) cancer – Symptoms
3. MedlinePlus: Uterine Cancer
4. NCI PDQ: Endometrial Cancer Treatment (PDQ) – Health Professional Version
5. NHS: Womb (uterus) cancer – Causes
6. NHS: Womb (uterus) cancer – Tests and next steps
7. NCI SEER: Cancer Stat Facts: Uterine Cancer
8. NHS: Womb (uterus) cancer – Treatment
9. NCI PDQ: Endometrial Cancer Treatment (PDQ) – Patient Version
10. NHS: Chemotherapy – Side effects
11. NHS: Radiotherapy – Side effects
12. NHS: Womb (uterus) cancer – Help and support

olvasva: 2026-11-11