Uterine Sarcoma

Uterine Sarcoma at a Glance

• Uterine sarcoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the muscles of the uterus or other tissues that support the uterus.
• It is important to understand that uterine sarcoma is different from cancer of the endometrium, a disease in which cancer cells start growing inside the lining of the uterus.
• Uterine sarcomas comprise less than 1% of gynecologic malignancies and 2% to 5% of all uterine malignancies.

Risk Factors

Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Risk factors for uterine sarcoma include the following:

• Past treatment with radiation therapy to the pelvis.
• Treatment with tamoxifen for breast cancer. A patient taking this drug should have a pelvic exam every year and report any vaginal bleeding (other than menstrual bleeding) as soon as possible.

Symptoms

Possible signs of uterine sarcoma include:

• Bleeding that is not part of menstrual periods.
• Bleeding after menopause.
• A mass in the vagina.
• Pain or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen.
• Frequent urination.