Uterine Sarcoma

Uterine Sarcoma

Uterine sarcoma is a rare type of uterine cancer that forms in the uterine muscles or in the tissues that support the uterus. It should not be confused with endometrial cancer, which is a more common form of uterine cancer. Symptoms of uterine sarcoma may include abnormal vaginal bleeding, a mass in the vagina, feelings of pain or fullness in the abdomen, and frequent urination. Treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy.

What Is Uterine Sarcoma?
Uterine sarcoma is a rare type of cancer in which cancerous cells form in the uterine muscles or other tissues that support the uterus.

Understanding the Uterus
The uterus is part of a woman's reproductive system that is located in the pelvis between the bladder and the rectum. The uterus is the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a baby grows. The narrow, lower portion of the uterus is called the cervix.

Uterine sarcoma is a very rare kind of cancer that forms in the uterine muscles or in the tissues that support the uterus. It is different from endometrial cancer, a disease in which cancer cells start growing inside the lining of the uterus (endometrium).

Risk Factors for Uterine Sarcoma
No one knows the exact cause of uterine sarcoma, and doctors can seldom explain why one person will get it and another person will not. However, it is clear that this disease is not contagious -- no one can "catch" uterine sarcoma from another person.

Research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop the disease. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chances of developing a disease. An example of a risk factor for uterine sarcoma involves past treatment with radiation therapy to the pelvis.

What Are the Symptoms?
Possible symptoms of uterine sarcoma include:

* Bleeding from the vagina that is not related to menstrual periods
* Bleeding after menopause
* A mass in the vagina
* Pain (or a feeling of fullness) in the abdomen
* Frequent urination.

These possible symptoms are not sure signs of the cancer; other diseases and health problems can also cause these symptoms. Women who have possible symptoms of uterine sarcoma should see a doctor as soon as possible, because only a doctor can diagnose and treat the problem.

Making a Diagnosis
If a woman has possible symptoms of uterine sarcoma, the doctor will need to perform a physical exam, ask about the patient's personal and family medical history, and recommend additional tests and procedures. Exams and tests that may be used to make a uterine sarcoma diagnosis include the following:

* Pap test (Pap smear)
* Dilatation and curettage (D&C)
* Endometrial biopsy.

Staging Uterine Sarcoma
When a diagnosis is made, the doctor will need to determine the stage, or extent, of the disease in order to plan the best uterine sarcoma treatment. Uterine sarcoma staging is a careful attempt to find out the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread, and if so, to what parts of the body.

Tests and procedures that may be used to determine the stage of uterine sarcoma include the following:

* Transvaginal ultrasound
* Computed tomography (CT) scan
* Chest x-ray
* Blood chemistry
* CA 125 assay
* Cystoscopy
* Sigmoidoscopy
* Barium enema
* Surgery.

Treatment for Uterine Sarcoma
Treatment for this disease will vary, based on:

* The size and location of the tumor
* The uterine sarcoma stage
* The patient's general health
* Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has come back.

In general, treatments options for uterine sarcoma can include:

* Surgery
* Chemotherapy
* Radiation therapy
* Hormone therapy.

Patients should work with their doctor to develop a treatment plan that meets their medical needs and personal values. Choosing the most appropriate treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, the family, and the healthcare team.

Summary
Key information about uterine sarcoma includes the following:

* Uterine sarcoma is a rare disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the muscles of the uterus or other tissues that support the uterus
* Having received radiation therapy to the pelvic area can increase the risk of developing uterine sarcoma
* Possible signs of this disease include abnormal vaginal bleeding
* Tests that are used to diagnose uterine sarcoma include Pap tests, a endometrial biopsy, and a D&C
* In general, treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy.