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If a Woman has symptoms that suggest Uterine Cancer:

Along with blood and urine tests, the doctor may perform such exams as:

1)Pelvic Exam-  A woman has a pelvic exam to check the vagina, uterus, bladder, and rectum.  The doctor feels these organs for any lumps or changes in their shape or size.  To see the uppoer part of the vagina the cervix, the doctor inserts an instrument called a speculum into the vagina. 

2)  Pap Test.  The doctor collects cells from the cervix ad upper vagina.  A medical laboratory checks for abnormal cells.  Although the pap test can detect cancer of the cervix, cells from inside the uterus usually do not show up on a pap test.  This is why the doctor collects samples of cells from inside the uterus in a procedure called a biopsy.

3)  Transvaginal Ultrasound- The doctor inserts an instrument into the vagina.  The instrument aims high frequency sounds waves at the uterus.  the pattern of the echoes they produce creates a picture.  If the endometrium looks too thick, the doctor can do a biopsy.

4)  Biopsy- The doctor removes a sample of tissue from the uterine lining.  This usually can be done in the doctor's office.  In some cases, however, a woman may need to have a dilation and curettage (D&C).  A D&C is usually done as same day surgery with anesthesia in a hospital.  A pathologist examines the tissue to check for cancer cells, hyperplasia, and other conditions.  For a short time after the biopsy, some women have cramps and vaginal bleeding.

Main Features Of Each Stage of Uterine Cancer:

Stage I- The cancer is only in the body of uterus.  It is not in the cervix.

Stage II- The cancer has spread from the body of the uterus to the cervix.

Stage III- The cancer has spread outside the uterus, but not outside the pelvis (and not to the bladder or rectum).  Lymph nodes in the pelvis may contain cancer cells. 

Stage IV- The cancer has spread into the bladder or rectum.  Or it has spread beyond the pelvis to other body parts.


The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists

Doctors names along with their speciality and their educational background is listed.
 This resource is available in most libraries.  The American Board of Medical Specialties.  (ABMS) also has telephone and internet services.  People may use these services to check whether a doctor is board certitied.  @ 1-866-ASK-ABMS(1-866-275-226) or http://www.abms.org/newsearch.asp