What Is Uterine Sarcoma?
For more information, please view the topics in the green box to the right.
Cancer happens when cells in your body go through changes that make them grow out of control. Cancer is distinguished from normal cells in that it can invade into the surrounding tissue and or spread to areas throughout the body. Uterine sarcoma is one kind of cancer that begins in your uterus. Only women have a uterus, so only women can get this kind of cancer.
Sarcoma refers to cancer that occurs in tissues of the body such as bone, fat, or muscles. Uterine sarcoma is cancer that develops in the tissues of the uterus. Cancer that forms in the inner lining of the uterus is called endometrial cancer. It is discussed in its own section.
Here are the main types of uterine sarcomas.
- Endometrial stromal sarcoma. This cancer begins in the tissue that supports the lining surface (endometrium) of the uterus. This tissue is called the stroma. ESS comes in two varieties. One is slow to grow and spread. It’s called endometrial stromal sarcoma. The other is a highly aggressive cancer. It’s called undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma. The slow growing types are most often found in women in their 30’s and 40’s and at early stages. They are sensitive to hormone treatment as well as to a few chemotherapy agents.
- Uterine leiomyosarcoma. This cancer forms in the muscular wall of the uterus. This tissue is called the myometrium. LMS is a rare uterine cancer. It is sometimes hard to differentiate from common uterine fibroids because the symtoms mimic uterine fibroids with a mass in the uterus, bleeding, pressure, and pain. Before surgery, it is often impossible to know that the LMS exists. Unlike endometrial cancer (a cancer of the lining of the uterus), a biopsy often cannot find the cancer in the wall of the uterus. Fibroids (not cancerous muscle masses in the uterus) are common in young and middle age women. Fibroids that produce symptoms are uncommon in older women (older than 50), should be watched closely.
- Uterine carcinosarcoma. This cancer has characteristics of both sarcoma (cancer in the tissues) and carcinoma (cancer in the lining).
- Uterine adenosarcoma. This rare cancer begins in the endometrium. It contains cancerous and noncancerous tumor cells.
Anatomy of the Uterus
Cross Section of the Female Reproductive System
(Courtesy of Jones and Bartlett Publishers)
The uterus is part of the female reproductive system. You may know it as the womb. The uterus is normally pear-shaped and about the size of a fist. It is in your pelvic area, between your bladder and your rectum. At the top of each side of your uterus are connections to your fallopian tubes. The other side of your fallopian tubes attach to your ovaries. The bottom of the uterus is called the cervix. It connects the uterus to your vagina. The uterus wall has 3 layers.
- Endometrium, the inner lining
- Myometrium, the middle muscle layer
- Serosa, the outer smooth layer
Normally, every month your ovary drops an egg into the fallopian tubes. Your endometrium is also getting thicker as preparation to receive a fertilized egg. If the egg isn’t fertilized, it exits the uterus through the vagina and your endometrial lining is shed as your menstrual period. But if the egg connects with a male sperm cell, this fertilized egg attaches to the endometrium. The uterus protects the growing fetus during pregnancy. During labor, the myometrium helps push the baby out through the cervix. The smooth serosa makes it easy for the uterus to move in the pelvis as needed.
The female hormones estrogen and progesterone are responsible for maintaining this healthy process. Your ovaries make most of these hormones.
